Heavy Rain and Flash Floods

Difficult to predict with precision and limited to specific areas: Severe weather events involving heavy rain often occur in the summer in conjunction with thunderstorms. In just a few minutes or hours, as much rain can fall as would normally fall over an entire month. Often, the excess water flows as flash floods outside of streams and rivers. If the water cannot seep into the ground quickly enough or be drained via a sewer system, underpasses, underground parking garages, or basements can quickly flood. Erlangen, too, has experienced repeated episodes of heavy rain in recent years, which have caused significant damage and kept emergency responders very busy.

Our Tips for Preparedness

• It is therefore important to closely monitor weather forecasts and warnings from the German Weather Service. During a severe storm or flash flood, you should stay indoors if possible, but be sure to avoid basements and underground parking garages.
• During a severe weather event affecting many buildings and streets, emergency responders cannot be everywhere at once. Therefore, it is important to reserve emergency lines (112) exclusively for acute emergencies.
• It is particularly important to take preventive measures early on. Backflow valves in the basement should be checked regularly to ensure that water cannot enter the building through the sewer system. Electrical appliances and heaters in at-risk rooms should be turned off early to prevent damage and the risk of electric shock. If necessary, the power in the affected area should be completely shut off.
• Underground parking garages can fill with water in a very short time and become life-threatening traps. Under no circumstances should you drive on flooded streets, as even small amounts of water are enough to damage or sweep away vehicles.
• As a general rule: Help others, but do not put yourself in danger. Children and people in need of assistance should be evacuated from at-risk areas as soon as possible.

Further information on this topic is available at www.erlangen.de/krisenvorsorge. Every month, the City of Erlangen provides information on a specific topic as part of its “Preparing for Crises and Disasters” series.