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**Mönchengladbach Takes Action Against Repeated Heavy Rain Events**
In response to the increasing frequency of heavy rain events and the associated risks, the city of Mönchengladbach, Germany, is taking proactive measures to protect its residents and infrastructure. Technical Deputy Mayor Claudia Schwan-Schmitz has spearheaded these efforts, urging homeowners to take action for both safety and insurance reasons.
One of the key tools developed by the city is a web app featuring a heavy rain hazard map. This innovative platform allows users to input their address and simulate a two-hour heavy rain event, complete with one hour of "block rain" at 5 cm of precipitation. The color-coding on the map indicates whether a user's house would be affected and how deep the water could get. The map serves to illustrate what would happen if it rained so hard that the sewers are full.
Schwan-Schmitz's suggestions for homeowners are not limited to the use of this web app. Other measures include bricking up basement windows, raising entrances in new buildings, and reconsidering old garden walls as potential flood prevention measures. These actions are not only for the prevention of damage but also for insurance purposes.
The city is also implementing technical infrastructure improvements, such as stormwater management systems, green infrastructure, and upgraded drainage networks, to handle heavy rainfall events. Early warning systems are being established to alert residents and businesses about impending heavy rainfall or flash flood risks. Incorporating flood risk data into zoning and building codes helps prevent construction in high-risk areas and mandates flood-resilient building practices.
Local governments often prepare emergency response plans, coordinate with fire and rescue services, and set up flood shelters or temporary barriers during severe weather. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about weather warnings, prepare emergency kits, and understand evacuation routes.
Citizens can find general information, precautionary tips, and specific statements about their property's risk during heavy rain events on the city's municipal information portal and web app, which can be found at https://stadt.mg/heavyrain.
As climate change continues to increase the frequency of heavy rainfall and flood risks in many parts of Germany, Mönchengladbach's integrated risk management strategy is essential for the city's future resilience. For precise, up-to-date details about Mönchengladbach’s heavy rain risk measures and citizen involvement, I recommend checking official municipal sources or local environmental agencies.
The city's heavy rain hazard map, part of the web app, helps visualize potential flooding by simulating a heavy rain event and indicating how deep the water could get at a user's address. To address climate-change-induced heavy rain events, environmental-science knowledge is vital in implementing improvements such as stormwater management systems and green infrastructure. For weather-forecasting purposes, early warning systems are being established to alert residents and businesses about impending heavy rainfall or flash flood risks.
