Danger of flooding in BW: How to effectively secure your home!

Danger of flooding in BW: How to effectively secure your home!

Floods in May and June 2024 caused devastating damage in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, estimated at several billion euros. Loud tagesschau.de Several people died in the floods, while the General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) estimates the insured damage at around two billion euros. In Baden-Württemberg, around 55,000 addresses are at risk of flooding, out of a total of over three million.

Most of the addresses at risk are in the Rastatt district, followed by the Main-Tauber district and the Rems-Murr district. Against this background, the GDV offers a flood check to assess the risk. This check helps consumers assess the risk to their properties and take necessary action.

Recommendations for better flood prevention

In order to plan new buildings more safely, it is advisable to avoid properties near rivers and flood areas. Specific recommendations for weatherproof construction include, but are not limited to, elevated construction, solid construction methods, and secured roofs with storm hooks and solid nailing. Existing buildings can also be made more weatherproof using backflow flaps, storm hooks and modern windows and doors. It is also important that gardens are equipped with dense hedges, drainage and infiltration areas to reduce the risk of flooding.

In addition to structural prevention, smart technologies can help, such as automatic roller shutters that are closed in the event of severe weather warnings. These are just some of the measures that citizens can take to protect themselves against the consequences of extreme weather events. Conventional household contents or building insurance often does not cover flood damage; Natural hazard insurance is therefore necessary. In Baden-Württemberg, 94 percent of buildings are equipped with such insurance.

Climate change and increasing risks

The risks from natural hazards are increasing worldwide, exacerbated by climate change. Loud MDR Premiums for home insurance have already doubled in the event of climate change-related natural disasters such as floods or storms. One of the challenges is the increased demand for insurance after natural disasters, as was observed after the flood in the Ahr Valley in 2021. The proportion of residential buildings in Germany insured against natural hazards has increased from 19 percent to 54 percent.

The GDV demands that new buildings in flood areas should no longer be approved. Every year, over 2,000 new buildings are built in such risk areas. In order to minimize the burden on insurance companies and the economic damage, a three-pillar model of climate impact adaptation, insurance and risk sharing between insurers and the state is necessary. It is crucial that the regulations on protective measures are also adapted and adequately financed.

Initiatives such as the federal natural hazards portal, which is being set up by the DWD, are also intended to help better inform the population about risks. The implementation of preventive measures remains essential to reduce the pressure on the insurance industry and to ensure the stability of premiums and insurance benefits.

For further information on flood preparedness and prevention measures, visit the website Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety be visited.