Flooding and heavy rain: precautions

In short: Heavy rain and floods can cause great damage within minutes to hours. Precaution consists of information, structural measures, insurance and correct behaviour.

In more detail: Extreme rainfall events are increasing because of climate change (klimawandel-grundlagen).

In detail

• Warnings: Weather warnings from the German Weather Service, warning apps NINA and KATWARN (wetterwarnungen-und-warn-apps).
• Hazard maps: Check flood and heavy-rain maps of the Länder and municipalities.
• Structural precautions: Backflow valves, seal light wells, no valuables in the cellar.
• Insurance: Natural-hazard insurance in addition to contents and buildings insurance (hausratversicherung).
• During the event: Avoid the cellar, switch off power, go to higher floors, do not drive or walk through water.
• Car: Do not drive into underpasses or flooded roads.
• After the event: Photos for the insurer, dry rooms, avoid mould (richtig-lueften-und-schimmel-vermeiden).
• Emergency call: 112 if life is in danger (notvorrat-und-krisenvorsorge).