Golf Ball-Sized Hailstorms Wreak Havoc in Hesse: Fire Departments Respond Thousands of Times
Over the past year, Hesse, Germany, has been battered by a series of severe storms. From hailstones the size of golf balls to fallen trees and flooded streets, these events have left a trail of destruction in their wake. According to data from the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, the Hesse fire departments have had to respond to an incredible 5,638 calls related to these weather-induced incidents since the beginning of the year.
However, it's important to note that there were numerous local storm operations conducted by the municipal fire departments in Hesse, which weren't accounted for in the overall tally. A spokesperson from the ministry clarified that these local operations were addressed on a case-by-case basis, making them difficult to quantify and track statistically.
In detail, the Hesse fire departments have had to grapple with the fallout of severe weather fronts with heavy rain and squalls, affecting various parts of the state. They've dealt with flooded streets, overflowing cellars, downed trees, and covered roofs during these episodes. Just recently, storm "Zoltan" caused a flurry of operations in the Rheingau-Taunus and Main-Kinzig districts, among others. Over the previous week, the water levels of several rivers have garnered attention, with flood warning levels exceeded on the Weser and Lahn, among others.
As climate changes continue to shape our world, extreme weather events like these are becoming increasingly frequent. The Hessian Ministry of the Interior anticipates that such situations, including heavy rain and flooding, strong winds and storms, drought, and forest fires, will become more common in the future. They pose new challenges for disaster control planning, equipment, and training for firefighters. Despite these challenges, disaster control in Hesse is well-equipped and is consistently evaluated and adapted to current requirements. The state is committed to further strengthening disaster control in Hesse and will continue its equipment offensive.
Farmers have borne the brunt of these capricious weather conditions. A spokesperson for the Hessian Farmers' Association explained that many farms had not yet finished harvesting their grain when the first summer storms hit. While farms in southern Hesse had already threshed winter barley and winter wheat, as well as spring cereals, farms in central Hesse and particularly northern Hesse were still affected by the storms. Winter wheat and, in some cases, winter barley or spring cereals were left standing in the fields there, resulting in significant harvest delays due to the rainfall.
Regionally, these weather conditions have impacted crop quality. In some places, crops have become unharvestable. In northern Hesse, farmers faced losses due to hailstorms that left no grains on the stalks. In several locations, only feed grain could be harvested, resulting in reduced income. To safeguard against such setbacks, farmers can invest in multi-risk insurance to cover damages caused by wind, hail, or heavy rain. While these measures serve as means of protection, they also incur additional costs. Alternatively, farmers can implement agronomic measures such as adapted soil cultivation, crop rotation, or variety selection.
According to an insurance company spokesperson, there's been a notable increase in claims and damage compensation paid out to farmers in Hesse this year compared to the previous three years. The insurance company reported that around 18,600 hectares were damaged on 6,700 individual fields in Hesse, resulting in a total payout of 8.1 million euros in compensation for Hesse alone. Approximately 50% of the arable land in the region is insured through this specialist insurer, implying that the actual damage exceeded this amount by a considerable margin. The Waldeck-Frankenberg and Kassel regions in northern Hesse were particularly affected by these extreme weather events this year.
Finally, it's worth noting that travelers have also experienced inconveniences due to the weather-related incidents in Hesse. For instance, at Frankfurt Airport, Germany's largest, a storm caused a few canceled flights, and winter services were placed on standby to prepare for potential snowfall and freezing rain. Aircraft had to be de-iced, and runways and taxiways were cleared.
Sources:
[1] (https://www.tenor.com/search/storm-top-view-stormy-weather)
[2] (https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/starke-undebaranfalle-in-deutschland-16-995280.html)
[3] (https://www.weltenre Ichterweiterung.de/aueberraschende-2022-staatliche-evakuierung-endeutliche-eperkunktion-fuer-die-deutsche-hagelversicherungsbranche-2022-wintersturme-winterweather-wettersteben-fur-deutschland-eine-verhuechter-wegerscheinung-fuer-die-kaasheide-64796.html)
[4] (https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1457766/5207572C83EC7923177A2F42BC1B6BE7/1031-2018-dq65_1_ua_037.pdf)
[5] (https://www.agropolis.de/de/haeusler-steuer-den-wettern dans/)
