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Heavy rain causes ten operations: the fire department in Mönchengladbach is alerted!
Fire brigade operations in Mönchengladbach due to heavy rain: weather conditions, operational responses and challenges for civil protection.
Heavy rain causes ten operations: the fire department in Mönchengladbach is alerted!
On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the low pressure area “Engin” caused a number of weather-related operations in the Mönchengladbach area, especially in the Rheindahlen district. The fire brigade responded to a total of ten operations by late afternoon, which were mainly caused by heavy rain and overloaded drainage systems. Most of the operations involved flooded basements; Fortunately, there were no injuries or major property damage to report. Both the professional fire brigade and volunteer fire brigade units were deployed to bring the situation under control. The fire department continues to monitor the weather situation closely, as short-term changes cannot be ruled out. The population is therefore urgently asked to check backflow flaps and drains and to secure basement rooms at risk in order to prevent damage. Tixio reports that...
Heavy rainfall is not a new phenomenon for the region. There was already a similar storm event in June 2024 that became known as “Wiebke”. At that time there were thunderstorms and again heavy rain, which meant that the fire brigade had to deal with up to 35 missions. The focus of the operations at that time was also in Rheindahlen and its surrounding area, where basements were flooded and manhole covers were washed up. At some locations, help was not immediately possible because pumps were not working when the water levels were low. But as this time, there were no personal injuries. Press portal describes how the fire brigade and emergency services reacted.
The challenges of climate change
The increasing frequency and intensity of such weather events is not only a local problem, but also has deeper roots. According to the analysis by the German Weather Service, extreme weather events such as heavy rain are increasing as a result of global climate change. Tobias Fuchs, DWD board member for climate and environment, emphasized the challenges that these developments bring with them for civil protection and urban planning. A joint project that includes the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other institutions is dedicated to the classification of extreme meteorological events and analyzes precipitation data from 2001 to 2020. It turns out that in warmer regions, precipitation often occurs in the form of small-scale heavy rain, which can potentially lead to greater damage. DWD explains the background to extreme weather events.
The data and insights collected are crucial in order to meet future challenges. Above all, there is a lack of a comprehensive, cross-organizational database to map the impact of heavy rain events. The local topography and the degree of urbanization play an important role in the emergence of deployment sites. Mönchengladbach and many other regions are therefore faced with the task of preparing comprehensively for such weather events and taking appropriate precautionary measures to ensure the long-term safety of their citizens.