Kassel under water: Uncontrolled in the century causes millions of damage!

In the district of Kassel, a severe storm caused considerable damage in August 2024, which are currently estimated at at least 7 million euros. The Gottsbüren district in Trendelburg is particularly affected. Here the estimated municipal damage amounts to around 4 to 4.5 million euros, without taking into account the costs for waste disposal. A total of 4.154 tons of earth and asphalt and 493 tons of bulky waste were removed. The duration of the damage can be estimated for one to two years.

For the support of the injured, over 230,000 euros were collected by a fundraiser. In order to minimize future damage, contracts with farmers have been signed for the creation of unmanageable stripes, and agroforStsy systems are planned to reduce the flow speed of rainwater. On August 29, 2024, there was another storm that caused an estimated damage of 1.5 million euros for the municipality and around 2 million euros for private damage. A final inventory of the damage is expected by mid -2025. The Hessian City and Community Association (HSGB) emphasized the importance of storm protection.

Current developments and reactions

A current storm on Thursday also caused chaos in the city of Kassel. The operator of a sports studio, Yannick Schleider, reported considerable damage after water entered his studio and his basement. In the city, many people are busy cleaning up, schools were closed on Friday, and several facilities such as the youth library and a daycare center are expected to remain closed until Monday.

The violent thunderstorms also led to problems in other areas such as Hattersheim and Waldeck; The weather service checks possible tornados. In Kassel, 50 mm rain fell within just 30 minutes, which is classified as a "century event". On Thursday afternoon, up to 200 emergency calls received an hour, and the emergency call centers recorded over 1,045 emergency calls by Friday morning. 400 emergency services, supported by 90 vehicles, were in use to cope with the situation.

thousands of basements in Kassel ran full of water, and the fire brigade was unable to help immediately everywhere. Fortunately, two rowers were able to free themselves on the Fulda, who got in mortal danger. Emergency rooms in hospitals did not report any increased advancement of injuries, only minor injuries. The city has blocked parks and many trees are checked. Sports halls were partially blocked, while football fields and ball sports facilities cannot be used at the weekend.

The streets in Kassel are contaminated with mud and branches, which means that the city cleaners are in constant use. Recycling courtyards have set up extended opening times for those affected, and the waterworks are working to clear road processes to prevent further damage. The nearby and long-distance traffic of the railway is also affected, which led to travelers to spend the night at the train station. Parts of local public transport were not accessible on Friday morning, while the KVG reported damage to eight vehicles.