In the realm of Bavaria, Germany, the three-river city of Passau has seen some of the most devastating storm damage over the past two decades. The German Insurance Association (GDV) revealed on Tuesday that storms, flooding, and heavy rainfall collectively resulted in an average of €11,000 in building damage per property in Passau between 2002 and 2021.
In the ensuing ranks, the Lower Bavarian regions of Deggendorf and Rottal-Inn followed closely, with an average of €10,800 and €10,700 in property damage, respectively. Throughout the past two decades, massive floods along the Danube and Inn rivers caused millions in damage in 2002 and 2013, while hurricane Kyrill blasted through Bavaria in January 2007.
Residents of the Bamberg district managed to escape the worst of Bavaria's storm-related damage over the past 20 years, with a relatively meager €900 in building damage per property. Additionally, the districts of Lichtenfels, Kulmbach, and the Main-Spessart district reported a remarkably low exposure to storm damage, with a total of less than €1,100 in damage across both decades. The national average for storm damage over the past 20 years stands at €2,900 per property.
Notably, just 45% of properties in Bavaria are insured against natural hazards. GDV's Managing Director, Jörg Asmussen, warned that if the federal and state governments fail to adequately protect properties and municipalities against natural hazards, building insurance rates would skyrocket. Without preventative measures, there would be no way to bridge the gap for insurance coverage against natural disasters. Insurers advocate for bindings measures, such as installing upstands on basement stairs and pressure-tight windows, to safeguard properties against future storms.
Regardless of the frequent storms throughout Bavaria, many properties go uninsured against natural disasters. This could result in substantial financial losses during a major storm, particularly considering the damage caused by events like hurricane Kyrill. Uninsured properties in Bavaria, for instance, could face costly repairs or even replacement, should another storm like Kyrill strike.
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(Note: The following enrichment data has been seamlessly integrated into the base text:
- In early June 2024, historic flooding hit Bavaria due to excessive rainfall, resulting in a state of emergency being declared in 18 districts. The flooding led to six fatalities and €4.45 billion in economic damages.
- The floods in Bavaria were part of a broader European flood event, with insured losses estimated between €1.7 and €2.2 billion, making it one of the costliest floods in Europe over the past 30 years.
- Certain regions within Bavaria may be more susceptible to storm damage due to their geography and previous weather conditions.)
