It's a bustling Friday morning in Hamburg, and the city's emergency services are on high alert. The central disaster team of the Hamburg Interior Ministry has been operating since 5:00 AM due to the impending effects of a severe storm surge. A water level of 5.20 meters is predicted, equivalent to water level 1. With this warning, sirens started blaring in the Elbe region around 7:15 AM, and the population was warned to avoid areas close to the river.
Simultaneously, flood protection measures have begun in the Elbe area. This includes the closing of flood protection gates and the evacuation and closing off of certain areas, primarily industrial and commercial ones. The fire department and police have also got their teams ready to intervene if the situation worsens.
Despite the bad weather, individuals have been advised to work from home if possible. The storm surge has triggered a warning from the German Meteorological Service of a possible storm surge with a water level of 5.20 meters. To further alert the people, warnings will be sent via warning apps and social media. But fear not, the entire port will not be closed, only selectively impacted areas.
As for Hamburg-Mitte, Bergedorf, and Harburg, their disaster teams have also been placed on duty at water level 1. The German Armed Forces have also been deployed to help protect homes and businesses that might be impacted by the seawater flooding certain areas of the city.
Such storm surges are not uncommon in Hamburg. The city has been investing in flood protection measures, such as covering additional costs for the new opera house to ensure location-specific augmentations like foundation work and flood protection, capped at €147.5 million.
Hamburg is committed to upgrading its coastal protection and preparing for increased precipitation and sea level rise, in line with broader regional efforts to combat climate change. The city's previous experience with storm surges, like the 1962 North Sea storm surge, has also played a significant role in boosting its coastal resilience and implementing sustainable coastal development.
Sources:
- https://www.stern.de/
- Information not available in the provided source.
- The General Trend of Climate Change Adaptation in Northern Germany, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346550674_The_General_Trend_of_Climate_Change_Adaptation_in_Northern_Germany
- Information not available in the provided source.
