Waiblingen on alert: Danger of flooding threatens Stihl factory!

Waiblingen on alert: Danger of flooding threatens Stihl factory!

On May 31, 2025, the region around Waiblingen was put on alert due to dramatic weather events and the threat of flooding. Stihl AG, whose factory is located in the immediate vicinity of the water, faced the risk of a flood on the Rems, which threatened to occur on June 3, 2025. Despite the critical situation, the company remained largely undamaged, but the impending flood left a lasting impression. This experience led the company to decide to acquire the Syntegon site and relocate production there in order to be better prepared for such natural hazards in the future.

At the same time, the mayor of Erbstetten, Irmtraud Wiedersatz, reported on the devastating effects of heavy rain that flooded the streets on June 2nd. In an initial assessment of the situation, a water depth of 20 cm was found in the morning, and flooding occurred again in the afternoon. The district office warned the population and asked them to avoid affected areas. An exceptional emergency was declared at 1:05 p.m. and technical operations lines were set up to coordinate the situation.

Crisis management and flood prevention

In the midst of these challenging conditions, it became clear that the already filled flood retention basins could no longer hold any further. This led to uncontrolled drainage, which particularly affected the towns of Urbach and Schorndorf. Dams in Winterbach had to be opened to enable controlled flooding and prevent worse things from happening. At the same time, the district office closed all affected paths and underpasses in Waiblingen to ensure public safety.

The German Weather Service warned urgently of further thunderstorms and the danger of lightning strikes and falling trees. A check of the water levels in the region showed that the Murr water level in Oppenweiler had initially reached a high of 2.82 m. Other areas such as Schwäbisch Gmünd and Lorch also had to deal with critical water levels. In Plüderhausen, for example, the water levels were 0.7 m above the overflow limit.

Precautions and recommendations

Sandlands residents were informed to boil their drinking water because rainwater had entered the drinking water supply. In collaboration between the crisis team, led by District Administrator Sigel, the situation was constantly evaluated in order to initiate the necessary measures as quickly as possible. Administrations made preparations, including providing a sandbag filling machine. The population was also encouraged to install warning apps such as Katwarn and Nina and to take their own precautionary measures in order to be better prepared for future flood events.

For detailed information on flood prevention and other measures, please contact the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, on the website bmuv.de provides comprehensive departments.

The events around Waiblingen urge caution and show how important emergency plans and awareness are in endangered regions. Developments this year will certainly trigger further discussions about preventive measures and adaptation to climate change.

As the region struggles with the floods, it is becoming clear that quick action and well-organized emergency structures are essential to ensure safety for the population.