Heidelberg in heavy rain war mode: How to protect your home!

Heidelberg in heavy rain war mode: How to protect your home!

Heidelberg, Deutschland - The weather can be very crazy in Heidelberg. Heavy rain, which drops large quantities of water in a very short time, has repeatedly caused flooding and slope slides in the city. According to Heidelberg24 therefore develops concepts to prepare for citizens and companies on such dangers.

The current pension concept includes, among other things, *heavy rain hazard cards *that help to evaluate the individual risk. These cards show potentially endangered areas in color: green, yellow and red, depending on the amount of rain. In this way, citizens can see at a glance where there is a risk of flood. The districts of Handschuhsheim, Südstadt, old town and Ziegelhausen, where there were already flooding in 2024, are particularly affected.

heavy rain in focus

heavy rain is not only uncomfortable, but can also cause devastating damage, especially in areas with insufficient drainage. In the case of rainy amounts of over 15 mm in one hour or 20 mm in six hours, the risk of floods and slope slides increases significantly. The city of Heidelberg has taken measures to counter this danger, including technical solutions such as backflow flaps and dams.

The interactive heavy rain hazard card enables residents to share personal experiences by uploading information about past heavy rain events. This is not only helpful for urban planning, but also promotes citizen participation. In addition, the city recommends using the Katwarn warning app to be informed about dangers in good time. This is considered essential by the city of Heidelberg, especially because the unpredictability of the weather events is a central challenge.

prevention and aftercare

The city has invested a lot in recent years to minimize the effects of heavy rain. A funding program called "heavy rain and flood protection" offers support owners. The funding pots are currently exhausted, but new applications will be possible after the 2025 budget release. The focus here is not only on the avoidance of damage, but also on adaptation to the changed climatic conditions.

The creation of security awareness is also important. In the event of heavy rain, citizens should take important steps: preventive measures such as storing documents in safe places and compliance with emergency plans are essential. After such an event, a quick inventory is necessary to document damage and to initiate comprehensive cleanup as soon as it is safe to enter the buildings.

Heidelberg emphasizes the importance of education about natural hazards. Dealing with risks that climate change brings with it is important for everyone. expertise show that risk, danger and vulnerability are decisive factors to better understand and prepare for it.

The efforts of the city are an important signal in times of climate change. By actively concerning the topic of heavy rain, not only damage can be minimized, but also the quality of life of the citizens can be improved. The main goal remains to ensure health and material protection.