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FLOODS

Germany cleans up after massive flooding in state of Saarland

German emergency workers were Saturday starting a major clean-up after heavy rains triggered massive flooding in the southwest of the country, while parts of Belgium and the Netherlands were also hit.

Published: 18 May 2024 13:53 CEST
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Saarland State premier Anke Rehlinger (R) wades through water as they visit flood stricken town of Kleinblittersdorf.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Saarland State premier Anke Rehlinger (R) wades through water as they visit flood stricken town of Kleinblittersdorf. Photo: Iris Maria Maurer / AFP

A huge downpour Friday in the German state of Saarland deluged buildings, left streets deep underwater and sparked evacuations, with rescuers carrying stranded residents to safety in boats.

Officials said it was the worst flooding in the area in nearly 30 years, with the capital Saarbrüken badly affected and reports saying that a breach in a dyke led to a power station in the state being shut down.

No deaths were reported but at least one person was injured.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, visiting a village in the affected area, said that “we can see here what violence nature can cause and how much we have to constantly prepare for such events.”

He praised the work of emergency services in helping local residents and promised help for those affected by the disaster.

Saarland state premier Anke Rehlinger said authorities still did not have a complete picture of the damage but it was expected to be “considerable”.

The heavy rains had eased early Saturday, however, and a severe weather warning for the area was lifted.

About 850 workers from the federal relief agency were dispatched to Saarland to help tackle the floods, joining several thousand people, many of them volunteers, in the state, the interior ministry said.

Water rescue teams were sent in from other states and extra fire-fighting units were deployed from the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, it said.

Germany has faced worsening floods in recent years.

In 2021, the regions of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were hit by catastrophic floods that killed more than 180 people.

In Belgium, the province of Liege was hit by severe flooding overnight into Saturday, with authorities receiving hundreds of requests for assistance and 150 firefighters deployed, governor Herve Jamar said.

The main help provided by emergency services was pumping water out of flooded buildings, he said.

Over the border in the Dutch province of Limburg, two campsites were evacuated early Saturday as they were threatened by rising floodwaters, officials said.

Meanwhile the Moselle area in France’s northeast was placed on flood alert as water levels rose in rivers following heavy rains.

Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods.

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FLOODS

How changes to flood insurance could push up rates for homeowners in Germany

Homeowners' lack of natural disaster insurance costs Germany billions every time a major flooding event occurs. Policy makers are debating whether insurance companies should be required to offer coverage.

Published: 20 June 2024 12:04 CEST
How changes to flood insurance could push up rates for homeowners in Germany

Two weeks after deadly floods in southern Germany caused billions of euros in damage, state premiers from the 16 states and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) are discussing compulsory insurance against flooding on Thursday.

The federal government is proposing a reverse insurance obligation – not for homeowners, but for insurers – which would require insurance companies to offer flood protection to every homeowner who wants to insure themselves against natural hazards. 

Currently owners of homes in high risk flooding areas are often unable to find an insurance company that is willing to cover the risk. 

This move could have a domino effect that would push up the cost of insurance for all homeowners in Germany. 

Why is compulsory insurance being discussed?

Germany’s flood policies are being re-evaluated following the fatal, and extremely costly, flooding events that swept southern regions of the country at the beginning of June.

Estimated insured losses for southern Germany are expected to “fall within the range of €2 billion to €3 billion”, according to Moody’s RMS.

A significant portion of those losses are from damage to homes. Some affected homeowners have opted-out of flood protection in their insurance plans, and others may not have been able to secure affordable flood insurance in the area where they live.

General homeowner’s insurance (Wohn­gebäude­versicherung) or household contents insurance (Hausrat­versicherung) doesn’t cover flood damages. Natural disasters, like flooding, are often only covered by supplementary “extreme weather protection” (Extrem­wetter­schutz).

Only about half of German homes are insured against natural disasters. 

READ ALSO: Where in Germany do homeowners face the greatest flood risk?

Looking at the devastating floods in July 2021, for example, insured losses amounted to almost €9 billion, but total damages including the uninsured losses to citizens, reached the astronomical sum of  €33 billion, according to calculations by the reinsurer Munich Re. 

When uninsured losses are that extensive, federal and state governments are forced to step in as an unofficial insurer, paying billions in aid. This is extremely expensive for the states, which have called for compulsory insurance against flooding.

flood damage

View of a building on the Wieslauf destroyed by flooding. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marijan Murat

How would homeowners be affected?

Compulsory insurance would likely push up insurance rates for homeowners across Germany, because ultimately insurers would look to offset the added risk.

Even private homeowners whose houses are far away from any body of water would end up contributing to the costs somewhat. 

Owners of apartment buildings would presumably want to pass this on to their tenants – including, for example, those on upper floors in units that face little to no risk of flood damages.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED – What fees do you have to pay when buying a home in Germany?

What are the arguments for and against the plan?

The argument for compulsory insurance essentially stems from the idea that homeowners in flood-prone regions deserve protection. Without help, uninsured homeowners in flood prone regions are threatened with financial ruin.

The counter-argument suggests that the general public should not be expected to front the costs for uninsured homeowners’ personal risk.

Some argue that municipalities that have allowed for homes to be built in known high-risk zones should bear those costs.

A survey by the Verivox portal, found that 71 percent of private homeowners support a concept for compulsory insurance against natural hazards. 

However, insurers, homeowners’ associations and some politicians including Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) are primarily against the compulsory insurance plan. 

Explaining Allianz’s position, board member Klaus Peter Roehler, wrote a statement that the company thinks customers should retain the right to opt-out of natural disaster protection.

He suggests that as extreme weather events become more likely, a solid response plan needs to be based on three core concepts. “Prevention and protective measures to adapt to the effects of climate change, insurance coverage calculated on a risk-adjusted basis, and state support in the event of extreme disasters,” said Roehler. 

His last point gets at the heart of the whole conflict around compulsory insurance – insurers don’t want to be left to solely cover the cost of natural disasters, and neither do the state or federal governments.

Insurers are also calling for better prevention against flooding, which could include building bans in flood zones, for example. But such measures are unpopular in local communities. 

Two weeks ago, Bavaria’s state premier Markus Söder (CSU) called for compulsory insurance for homeowners on the one hand and at the same time rejected building bans in flood-prone areas. A move that demonstrates his effort to appeal constituents’ concerns, but reveals a complete lack of planning to mitigate future damages.

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