Flood risk in Hesse: This is how you secure yourself against floods!

Flood risk in Hesse: This is how you secure yourself against floods!

On January 26, 2025, the flood warnings for the Lahn near Marburg an der Lahn are of great importance. The Lahn, which flows through North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, has a length of about 166 kilometers and is regularly monitored to its water level. The current water levels are crucial in order to recognize possible floods early and take suitable measures. According to op-marburg.de Flood warning status set.

A three-stage flood warning system is used in Hessen:

• reporting level 1: On -board flow, the first outlets are possible.
• reporting level 2: Larger floods with extensive floods and traffic disruptions.
• reporting level 3: Exceptional floods that can lead to extensive floods and road closures.

The water levels and warnings are carried out by the flood center, among other things, which uses various channels such as radio, television and social media to inform the population

Current water levels and historical reviews

At the moment, the water level in Marburg is 400 cm, which corresponds to registration level 1. In order to better understand the warning levels, the values ​​for the different registration levels are listed below:

The flood history shows that past events such as the flood events in February 2022 and February 2020 reach (t) by storms of over 430 cm. The record value of over 480 cm was measured in January 2018 by storm "Friederike", and the highest water level in Marburg was recorded in 1984 with 533 cm. This shows how serious the situation in this region is.

In addition, the levels of the levels, which are crucial for the warning levels, are important to consider. In Marburg, the leveling point is 174 cm. The definition of the various water levels is essential for preventive measures.

Information on data availability and future developments

The Hessian State Office in Wiesbaden regularly provides updated live cards that show the water levels and flood registration levels of the Hessian rivers. In addition to these cards, an increasing importance of digital geodata can be observed. The flood atlas of the BKG summarizes important information and offers a digital platform for authorities and the public to better assess the dangers of floods.

The analysis of past and current flood events is crucial for future prevention measures. Increasingly hot summer in Germany lead to more intensive precipitation events that have a clear connection to flood events. This illustrates the need for further research and improved communication strategies regarding flood warnings.