Danger of flooding in Hanover: water levels alert the city!

Danger of flooding in Hanover: water levels alert the city!

In the last few days, the floods in Hanover have attracted a lot of attention. The region's two main rivers, the Leine and the Ihme, are once again on everyone's lips. While the Leine rises in southern Eichsfeld and flows into the Aller north of Schwarmstedt, the shorter Ihme flows from the Deister foreland and also flows into the Leine north of Hanover. In particular, the water levels of both rivers are monitored closely as they provide important information for citizens.

Residents also currently have to inform themselves about the flood warnings. In Lower Saxony, these depend on the monitoring of the leash levels in Hanover-Herrenhausen and Neustadt. The Hydrological Service has defined different reporting levels for floods:

• Stufe 1: Bordvoller Abfluss, vereinzelt Überflutungen.
• Stufe 2: Überschwemmung land- und forstwirtschaftlicher Flächen.
• Stufe 3: Überflutungen von Grundstücken, Straßen und Kellern möglich.
• Stufe 4: Größere Überflutungen in bebauten Gebieten, Einsatz von Wasser- und Dammwehren erforderlich.

These levels provide a clear indication of the severity of the situation so that those affected can react quickly. The highest measured water levels in the Leine near Hanover were 644 cm, a value that was recorded on February 10, 1946. In contrast, the average flood at Herrenhausen is 516 cm.

Early warning systems and flood prevention

Flooding is undoubtedly a natural event that cannot be completely prevented. Structural and technical measures do not offer 100% protection. Early warning is therefore crucial in order to mobilize the population and emergency services in a timely manner and minimize damage. Bavaria has also set up a flood intelligence service that collects water level, runoff and precipitation data and carries out evaluations. Information is also made available through various channels, including mobile apps, to help citizens stay up to date.

Another important aspect is the technology behind the warning systems. Modern systems are equipped with sensors that collect and analyze data. These automatically send out warning signals if critical values ​​are reached and enable a quick response. The Baboon sirens, which are essential for early warning, can be operated independently of external power, which is extremely important in an emergency.

Cooperation between authorities

Work is also underway nationwide on a cross-state flood portal that will provide an overview of warnings and water levels. In Lower Saxony it is the police, fire brigade and various state authorities who take responsibility for warning the population. People can obtain information through various channels, such as radio, television, internet platforms and social media. In this way, the public always remains informed and prepared for possible flood events.

Overall, the current situation in Hanover shows how important preventative measures and effective information systems are. While the rivers continue to be monitored closely, it remains to be seen how the weather situation develops and whether river levels remain stable.