A torrential downpour persists in Lower Saxony, leading to skyrocketing river and stream levels. As reported by the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN), around 30 water levels reached warning level 3 by Sunday morning, affecting the Weser, Aller, Leine, and Oker, among other rivers. At level three, property flooding, substantial area inundation, road disruption, and cellar damage are imminent threats.
In Rodenberg, the Schaumburg district, emergency services deployed over 300 volunteers alongside firefighters. These units distributed sandbags to shield properties, situated transformer stations as precautions, and even notified residents through sirens into the early hours of Sunday. Mayor Thomas Wolf reported that floodwater had breached the town's weir, prompting urgent action from the relief teams.
Several Lower Saxony districts, including Holzminden and Hameln-Pyrmont, had already issued flood warnings on Saturday as predicted by the NLWKN earlier on Friday. The agency anticipated the flood situation to deteriorate during the Christmas holidays due to Zoltan's storm depression–associated rainfall.
- Despite continuous rainfall exacerbating flooding issues, Lower Saxony's rivers became tinged ochre, indicating high sedimentation.
- With warnings expected to escalate across Lower Saxony during the festive season, relief teams worked tirelessly to minimize damages and protect vulnerable structures.
- Residents of Rodenberg grew increasingly aware of the prevalent flood threat, leading to siren warnings during Saturday's night.
Source: stern.de
Flooding in Lower Saxony has significantly impacted numerous regions across Germany in the past. Heavy rainfall events and rail infrastructure remain sensitive to these floods, as evident in the study on heavy-rainfall events and natural hazards along the German rail network. Regions with valley-following routes or low mountain passage are typically more vulnerable.
Fighting against flood risks in other parts of Germany involves extensive nature conservation projects, like the Lower Havel lowlands project, which focuses on relocating dykes to maximize floodplain areas, thereby preserving wetlands and promoting ecological continuity.
Germany's recent Climate Adaptation Act and climate adaptation strategy aim to tackle flood risks more effectively, setting measurable targets for better adaptation to climate change challenges. Although the exact actions to combat flooding in Lower Saxony are not detailed in the sources, it appears that regional and national initiatives are increasingly combating the effects of heavy rainfall and flood events.
