Flood protection and flood prevention – Prepared together for emergencies The district administration provides monthly information on the topic of emergency preparedness. This time it's about flood protection and flood prevention from an official perspective and as a community task.

Oberbergischer Kreis. The devastating flood in July 2021 is now five years behind us. The exceptionally intense and widespread rainfall also caused significant damage in the Oberbergischer Kreis. Numerous emergency forces from fire departments, aid organizations, and other authorities were on duty for days. The main focus of operations was the northern part of the district in the municipal areas of Hückeswagen and Wipperfürth. However, in Gummersbach, Lindlar, and Engelskirchen, the heavy rainfall also led to flooding at the time. 

„These experiences have shown that we must prepare for extreme weather events and how important comprehensive preparation is. That is why we continuously invest in civil protection together with our cities and municipalities, the fire departments, aid organizations, and many other partners,” says County Commissioner Klaus Grootens.

Updating disaster protection plans

Even before it became a legal requirement, the Oberbergischer Kreis developed a disaster protection needs plan, which was adopted by the county council in 2024. This plan addresses various damage scenarios - including flood and heavy rainfall events - and derives specific measures for civil protection.

Numerous measures have already been implemented. The municipalities have continued to expand the county-wide siren network. The Oberbergischer Kreis regularly participates in state-wide and nationwide warning days and informs about warning signals and recommended actions. Since 2023, Cell Broadcast has supplemented the existing warning systems. Additionally, the county's fire and rescue control center can broadcast warning messages via Radio Berg.

Crisis management is also a key focus. Alert thresholds and leadership structures have been reviewed and refined. Communication channels between the county and municipalities have been strengthened, including through satellite phones and modern IT systems for the leadership and crisis staff. These enable improved situation assessments and georedundant operations. This is complemented by the increased involvement of expert advisors in the leadership staff and regular exchange formats with the municipalities belonging to the district.

Birgit Hähn, Department Head for Safety and Order, emphasizes: „Disaster protection is not a static system but evolves continuously. We therefore continually update our plans and adapt them to new findings and developments.”

Exercises and equipment

Regular exercises are another focus of preparation. The leadership staff of the Oberbergischer Kreis trains its processes monthly and additionally in larger-scale exercises. Flood scenarios are practiced, among other places, at the Fire Institute of North Rhine-Westphalia in Münster. Additionally, the fire departments in the Oberbergischer Kreis, together with the Technical Relief Agency, are trained in flood protection and dike defense.

In parallel, the Oberbergischer Kreis continuously expands its disaster protection equipment. This includes a new disaster protection warehouse with a logistics vehicle and extensive material storage, as well as the acquisition of a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) for situation reconnaissance. Further specialized technology is in preparation.

Aid organizations are also supported with new equipment and targeted funding. For example, the swift water rescue teams of the DLRG have been equipped with new specialized gear, funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Regional cooperation

Floods and heavy rainfall do not stop at municipal boundaries. Therefore, another focus is on cooperation beyond district boundaries. The Oberbergischer Kreis collaborates with the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, the cities of Leverkusen, Remscheid, Solingen, and Wuppertal, as well as the Agger and Wupper association within the cooperation „Flood prevention at Agger and Wupper.”

„Cross-municipal collaboration helps to utilize resources efficiently and better prepare the entire region for future events,” says Frank Herhaus, Department Head for Planning, Regional Development, and Environment.

Enhancing the population's self-help capability

In addition to advancing civil protection, the Oberbergischer Kreis focuses on strengthening self-help capabilities. Through regular information on emergency preparedness in social media and the press, informational events at the VHS Oberberg, and the pilot project „Disaster protection goes to school,” the county administration aims to raise awareness among citizens regarding emergency preparedness in private households.

„Effective protection can only be achieved through the cooperation of authorities, emergency forces, and a well-prepared population. Our emergency forces regularly train for such scenarios. However, it remains true: In widespread damage scenarios, help cannot be provided everywhere simultaneously. Therefore, everyone should check whether their home is at risk from heavy rainfall or flooding and take appropriate precautions,” emphasizes County Commissioner Klaus Grootens. 

Assessing personal risk using map material

The heavy rainfall and flood maps of the Oberbergischer Kreis in the geodata portal „Spatial Information Oberberg (RIO)” at www.obk.de/rio help to assess personal risk at an address-specific level. County Fire Chief Julian Seeger provides specific recommendations to protect one’s home: "Useful measures include a backflow preventer to protect against incoming wastewater, mobile protection systems like sandbags, securing heating oil tanks against floating, and storing important documents and valuable items in higher areas of the house." It is also beneficial to install and set up warning apps like NINA or KATWARN, as well as the Meine Pegel app, on your own smartphone to receive warnings in emergencies. 
 

Further Information

• Maps of flood, overflow, and heavy rainfall hazards in the geodata portal „Spatial Information Oberberg (RIO)” under the section "Climate, Nature, and Environment":
  www.obk.de/rio
   

• Flood Portal NRW with current water levels and hydrological situation reports: www.hochwasserportal.nrw.de

• Apps for iOS and Android:
  NINA, KATWARN, Meine Pegel

• Web-app for assessing risks for your home:
  hochwasser-app.nrw

• Guide "Preparing for Crises and Disasters" from the Federal Government:
  www.bbk.bund.de

• Information from the Oberbergischer Kreis on emergency preparedness:
  www.obk.de/notfall-info

• Information on district-wide heavy rainfall risk management:
  www.obk.de/starkregen

• Information on the cooperation „Flood Prevention at Agger and Wupper”: www.kooperation-agger-wupper.de