Examining the Gaps in 2021's Flood Disaster Response: An Unvarnished Look
Inquiry Committee Reviews Flood Incident: Identified Shortcomings and Overlooked Aspects - Investigatory Commission's Report on Flooding: Lapses and Oversights Revealed
Let's get to the point, shall we?
The Parliamentary Inquiry Committee investigating North Rhine-Westphalia's (NRW) 2021 flood disaster has identified some stark oversights that contributed to the population's inadequate protection. As per a draft report by committee chairman Sven Wolf (SPD), obtained by the German Press Agency, issues such as inadequate early warning systems, shoddy communication, and infrastructure that's not designed to withstand extreme weather in various municipalities have been under scrutiny.
The final report is slated to be approved by all five parliamentary factions this month and will be open for debate in the plenary session in July. In recent years, there's been agreement between government and opposition factions in many areas when reviewing these deficiencies and required actions.
The Flood Inquiry Committee has been in session since the start of the new legislative period, and a previous committee had already delved into this matter in the previous term.
Political sparks in the error analysis
The political evaluation is likely to remain a contentious issue between the factions. The current draft report accuses the state government of not deploying a state crisis team, but only a coordination group, during the greatest flood disaster in the state's history. A crisis team staffed with external experts could have better managed the situation and warned the population earlier, the report states.
The disaster on July 14 and 15, 2021, left 49 casualties in NRW and incurred damage running into billions.
The incumbent faction, the CDU, opposes the untimely report leaking to the media, despite plans for jointly agreed versions. "This breach of trust undermines the political process, and moreover, the report currently circulating still contains numerous errors," said Thomas Schnelle, the CDU spokesperson on the committee, to the dpa.
The CDU alleges that the list of improvements in disaster and flood protection and early warning systems enacted under SPD leadership is not fairly addressed.
SPD member of parliament René Schneider admitted that the leaked report still requires evaluation. "At first glance, it seems to represent a compromise that we could agree to," he said to the dpa. The SPD remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached. "This would be a significant milestone for those affected locally."
NRW Interior Ministry's Negligence
During the disaster, the state's Interior Ministry failed to promptly issue a statewide weather warning. By the time the coordinating group began its work on July 15, 2021, the floodwaters had already swept through the towns, and many people had died overnight. Sirens were absent, warning chains didn't work. "Many residents only learned of the danger through neighbors or social media." Unlike other federal states, North Rhine-Westphalia still does not have a central forecasting and reporting center for heavy rain and flooding. Additionally, "personal negligence" of the former NRW Minister of the Environment, Ursula Heinen-Esser, who only briefly interrupted her Mallorca vacation during the flood, is also criticized. The CDU politician resigned in April 2022.
How to Reduce Risks?
In the draft, several measures are proposed to address these flaws:
- Improved Warning Systems: These should incorporate multiple warning methods, such as sirens, mobile phones, warning apps, and radio, and be more resilient. Initial data shows that one in four of the 144 official warning messages was flawed or inaccurate during the NRW flood. Since the disaster, over 400 new sirens have been installed, and the warning infrastructure is planned to be upgraded further. A state-owned flood warning app was introduced in April 2025.
- Coordination Centers: A statewide non-police coordination center for major disasters should be established. "During the critical phase of the flood, there was a significant need for coordination between local, state, and federal authorities," it is concluded from numerous witness testimonies. "Structures were neither standardized nor sufficiently practiced."
- Crisis Management Plans: Implementing disaster protection plans and staff for extraordinary events at the local level should be mandatory. Regular crisis management exercises are to be compulsory at both local and state levels.
- Infrastructure Protection: Statewide recording and risk assessment of endangered infrastructures, such as bridges, culverts, and dams, is recommended. Greater protection for critical infrastructure like water, energy, traffic, and telecommunications against extreme events is also proposed. In the disaster area, 40 wastewater treatment plants were flooded, contaminating rivers with untreated sewage for days to weeks. "Without power, aeration and pumps ceased functioning, making proper treatment impossible for days to weeks."
- Crisis Team Regulation: Implementing a mandatory crisis team for major events with clear responsibilities is proposed. An operating program for all reservoirs should be established, which simulates extreme scenarios and contains precautionary plans.
In conclusion, the Committee's draft report highlights several key areas requiring improvement to prevent, detect, respond, and recover from flood disasters effectively in the face of ongoing climate change. This includes rethinking warning systems, designing more resilient infrastructure, implementing comprehensive adaptation strategies, strengthening cross-regional collaboration, and improving the public's awareness and preparedness.
- The draft report from the Flood Inquiry Committee emphasizes the need for an overhaul of environmental protection measures, particularly in the areas of early warning systems, communication, and infrastructure, to ensure they can withstand extreme weather events.
- The report suggests several strategies to reduce risks, including the establishment of a statewide non-police coordination center for major disasters, the implementation of disaster protection plans and staff for extraordinary events at the local level, and the mandate for a crisis team for major events with clear responsibilities.
