Heavy downpour hits Neumünster: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Heavy downpour hits Neumünster: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Heavy downpours affected the north of Germany today, especially the Neumünster and Norderstedt regions. The rainfall led to widespread flooding in the cities, and the fire brigade had their hands full. The streets were under water, cellars and underground car parks were full, which led to numerous traffic delays. The situation was particularly dramatic in Norderstedt, where up to 200 firefighters were deployed to answer citizens' calls for help. The western regional control center in Elmshorn was forced to declare a state of emergency for Norderstedt.

Mayor Katrin Schmieder from the Green Party thanked the emergency services for their tireless efforts and emphasized the importance of preparing for such weather events. “We have to be prepared for such extreme situations,” she said, underlining the challenges posed by climate change. Most of the time it's not just the showers that cause excitement; It is also the increasing pressure that the climate is putting on our infrastructure.

The effects of climate change

Experts agree that extremes such as heavy rain will occur more frequently in the coming years. According to the fire department magazine, the average temperature in Germany is already showing an increase of 1.6 degrees Celsius compared to the weather records. Forecasts indicate that a temperature increase of up to 4 degrees is possible by 2100 without effective climate protection. This not only brings with it more heavy rainfall, but also other extreme weather events such as heat waves and dry spells, which present fire departments with new challenges.

An interesting aspect is that although the amount of precipitation decreases in summer, the intensity of the precipitation increases. This presents the emergency services with the task of becoming better prepared for such situations. The past has shown that the number of operations during such weather events often remains unclear as calls for help come in every minute.

Firefighting operations and challenges

During today's operation, the professional and volunteer fire brigade were in constant operation. The affected districts in Norderstedt included Garstedt and Glashütte. While the fire brigade tried to get the masses of water under control, public transport was significantly disrupted, which further aggravated the situation on site. The torrential rains that hit the region at that time were a reflection of a larger problem that is increasingly looming as a result of climate change.

As the experts from [Feuerwehrmagazin](https://www.feuerwehrmagazin.de/wissen/klimawandel-extreme- outlooken-fuer-die-feuerwehr-98694) emphasize, the need for comprehensive preparation is becoming increasingly important. At a time when extreme weather events are increasing, it is crucial that both emergency services and cities can respond to changing climatic conditions in an informed manner. The events in Neumünster and Norderstedt are a powerful reminder that climate change is not a distant problem, but affects us here and now.

Further climate change predictions show that impacts on weather patterns, such as rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall in summer, will only increase the risk of such catastrophic events. Municipalities are required to take preventive measures to ensure the safety of their citizens.