Thanks to the main dam, which is now to be renewed and increased, Uwe Sauer assumes that scenarios such as those in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate are almost impossible in Offenbach.
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Offenbach – Uwe Sauer, head of the Offenbach professional fire brigade, has been working as a Hessian representative in the civil protection and disaster control committee of the working group of heads of professional fire brigades in the Federal Republic of Germany for years. He knows what is important in a disaster such as in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. In the interview he talks about the local situation and how Offenbach is prepared for such situations.
Mr. Sauer, as an expert, what do you say about the situation in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate?
If you’d asked me about it on Monday last week, I wouldn’t have painted a scenario like this. When I see the pictures, think about what is happening, I get goose bumps. It’s just inconceivable.
Uwe Sauer, head of the professional fire brigade, sees Offenbach well prepared for a disaster.
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How do you rate the handling of the flood disaster on site?
My perception is that everyone works till they drop and does everything humanly possible. It’s a situation we haven’t seen before, with challenges that we haven’t had before: Locations that are cut off from the outside world, no water, no electricity, no radio. First you have to sort yourself out and ask: What do I start with now? Bringing all this together, organizing it, and even getting an overview of the situation is a Herculean task. Everyone does their best there.
Your people were also on duty in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Our people drove together with about 650 Hessian emergency services on Thursday and should stay for a week. However, they were sent back on Sunday. We don’t know exactly why either. The Offenbach forces have taken over the leadership of the Hessian contingent together with those from the Hochtaunus district. So no one came back with mud-smeared shoes. But of course they got an idea of the situation anyway, that always helps with the operations management. And from Erftstadt, for example, my people have also reported that it is simply blatant, this swath of unimaginable devastation.
Would such a devastating event also be conceivable in Offenbach?
In contrast to the areas that are now affected, we have no steep walls or slopes in Offenbach. In addition, both Hainbach and Bieber can expand into the area in many places in an emergency. Of course, heavy rain can lead to floods, floods and full cellars, we already know that. And of course it can happen that something like this happens more frequently and faster in the future as a result of climate change. But I don’t know where the water should get the energy from, so that the beaver could tear half beaver away as a torrent.
And what about the Main?
Thank God we have our dike in Offenbach. It has been called for for a long time to increase it so that it can withstand a flood, which statistically has so far happened once every 200 years. This measure has now been initiated. And from the Carl Ulrich Bridge, where the dam ends, the quay wall is so high that it can withstand such a water level. In addition, on the other side of the Main, we have the Main foreland and the fields of Fechenheim, where the water can spread. Likewise on the Mainbogen in Rumpenheim. It is therefore also important that the site remains undeveloped there. As long as that is the case, we actually have peace.
What do you think would be the worst scenario?
It would be critical for Offenbach if we had water levels that are significantly higher than this 200-year flood. To a certain extent we still have the opportunity to raise the crown by defending the dike, but that is finite. If the dike were to break – which I think is very unlikely – that would be dramatic, that is clear.
Is Offenbach well prepared for such a disaster?
Disaster control is the responsibility of the federal states, and Hessen is generally very well positioned there. Unlike in other countries, the same contingent of units has been set up for all districts and independent cities, including in Offenbach. There is also special equipment that, although not individually purchased for everyone, is distributed in such a way that it is available to everyone.
In view of the current events, should there still be an upgrade in this regard?
I would consider it appropriate for us to take another critical look at the situation for Hessen as well. But you can’t take a quick shot now. We should wait and see what our colleagues from Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia report afterwards and then look at everything. This also applies to the nationwide organization of disaster control and the question of how the population is warned and informed in an emergency. For Offenbach, I can report that we have now started planning to reinstall a siren network in the urban area. Together with the Public Relations Office, we warn and inform you of dangerous situations via the Hessenwarn app, at www.offenbach.de and #notfallof on Twitter.
The interview was conducted by Lena Jochum.
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