Floods move from small rivers in the Rhine and Main

WIESBADEN – Despite persistent rain, the water levels of the smaller rivers in Hesse fell on Saturday night. As the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology announced in Wiesbaden, the flood situation continues for the entire weekend. Only at the beginning of the week was “a certain relaxation to be expected”.

Especially in the badly affected city of Büdingen (Wetteraukreis), the flood decreased significantly. According to the state office, the water level fell so sharply on Saturday night that the official reporting level was withdrawn. Local residents carried their destroyed furniture out of their homes and began cleaning up. Within a few hours on Friday, the old town was completely flooded.

Numerous roads blocked by flooding

The crests of the waves on the Kinzig, Lahn and Fulda rivers shifted to the middle and lower reaches of the rivers. The second highest reporting level was reached there in places. So the water levels of the Lahn rose from Marburg on Saturday. Around half of the levels exceeded the reporting levels. In Limburg, the police reported traffic obstructions in the entire district. Also in Wächtersbach (Main-Kinzig-Kreis) numerous streets were still closed due to flooding.

On the Main and the Middle Rhine, however, the water continued to rise. For the Hessian section of the Rhine, the office predicted a high for Monday. According to its own information, the Wiesbaden fire brigade erected mobile flood protection walls in Schierstein and Kostheim. Parking spaces on the banks of the Rhine were blocked. Motorists had to get their cars to safety. Local residents prepared for the impending flood.

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Club members of the Schierstein water sports club have also taken initial protective measures at Schiersteiner Westhafen against the rising water level on the Rhine. So winter camp and campsite were cleared

Additional difficulties from the pandemic

Since Thursday rains have caused floods across Hesse. The current overview is available here. In Hanau, hardware stores were therefore allowed to sell sandbags, tarpaulins and pumps to private customers on Saturday with a special permit. Because of the corona pandemic, they are actually closed to private customers in Hesse.
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According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the rainy weather will last at least until Wednesday. “The water levels on the rivers remain at a high level,” said a DWD meteorologist in Offenbach. Only on Sunday is it said to be largely free of rain. Official warnings of severe thaws have now been lifted.