The City Greenery Department Continues to Clean Up Storm Damage

Storm damage still needs to be cleared up throughout the city. According to the municipal Parks and Recreation Department, there are still about 120 “work sites” for employees. It is important to note that barriers must be respected. Damaged trees still need to be inspected, and broken branches need to be removed. In addition, damaged branches can break off at any time.

250 personnel were on the scene

A severe thunderstorm with gusty winds swept through Erlangen and the surrounding region in the early evening of July 14. In the city limits alone, the fire department had to respond to over 200 calls that day. The heaviest activity was in the southern part of the city, including the neighborhoods of Frauenaurach, Bruck, Eltersdorf, and Tennenlohe. Due to the storm, a total of 250 personnel—including full-time staff from the permanent fire station, all 13 volunteer fire departments, and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief—remained on duty until early Wednesday morning, July 15.

The damage ranged from flooded basements and underground parking garages to numerous fallen trees, damaged roofs, and more. Due to the large number of incident sites within the city limits, assistance from outside the area was requested. In response, the district of Fürth dispatched four fire departments with five emergency vehicles, and the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt sent one fire department with a turntable ladder vehicle to the city of Hugenottenstadt.

The Nuremberg Integrated Control Center recorded around 3,000 emergency calls on the evening of the storm. It is responsible for the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth, and Erlangen, as well as the districts of Nürnberger Land, Fürth, and Erlangen-Höchstadt.

Consequences of the storm (Photo: Erlangen Fire Department)

Caution During Cleanup Work

Extreme caution is advised, as trees may still fall. When cleaning up your own basement, pay particular attention to electrical appliances, flooded outlets, or similar hazards.

The city of Erlangen recommends installing the NINA warning app (the federal government’s emergency information and news app). In addition to hazard alerts, it sends severe weather warnings for your predefined location along with safety tips.

Thanks to Emergency Responders

On July 15, Deputy Mayor and Fire Department Spokesperson Eva Linhart, together with Mayor Jörg Volleth, thanked the emergency responders—most of whom are volunteers—for addressing all the damage.

Further information on heavy rain and flash floods is available online at www.erlangen.de/krisenvorsorge. The city provides monthly updates to the public as part of its “Preparing for Crises and Disasters” series.