Danger of flooding in the Soest district: How to protect your home!

Danger of flooding in the Soest district: How to protect your home!

Storms are hitting the Soest district and the population has to prepare for another heavy rain on June 14, 2025. The crisis situation is by no means new: damage has been repeatedly recorded in recent years due to persistent storms and increasing heavy rain events. As the Soester Anzeiger reports, the risk is particularly high for the old town of Soest and the town of Hattrop, which has been affected by floods several times in the last five years.

All citizens have the opportunity to check their personal flood risk. On the website floodcheck.net You can easily enter your own address and get information. Flooding can occur in two ways: through rising water levels or through sudden flooding due to heavy rainfall.

Advice and help if there is a risk of flooding

If there is an impending risk of flooding, precautionary measures are mandatory. Citizens are advised to design their properties in such a way that damage is minimized. Protecting properties with walls, raising light wells and designing your own property correctly are just a few tips that can prove helpful for owners of at-risk properties. If you don't have space in the basement, you should make sure that it is not used as living or storage space so that you don't lose everything if the worst comes to the worst, the website mentions Soest district.

The city of Soest has also set up an offer of financial support for flood protection measures. Owners can claim up to 50% of the costs for certain protective measures, such as structural protection devices, pressure-tight doors or pump systems - up to a maximum of 500 euros. This is intended to make the fight against flooding easier.

Technological aids against floods

It is also important to keep an eye on the current water levels. The Soest district has expanded the “PegelApp” to include a function that displays individual warnings and current water levels. This app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play and should be downloaded by every citizen at risk of flooding.

Much has been done in the past to minimize the risk of flood events. A total of eight flood retention basins were built in the Soest district, and numerous other protective measures are planned. This includes, among other things, the reversal of the Mühlenbach and the design of retention areas in order to divert precipitation more effectively, as the Soest district informs.

Global challenges and local measures

However, the problem of flooding is not just a local phenomenon. Rainfall is increasing in intensity throughout Germany and beyond. Last year, for example, the Spanish province of Valencia experienced unexpected floods that cost many people their lives. Scientists are finding that global warming is influencing much of these extreme weather patterns. The need for effective flood protection to mitigate the effects of global warming and to better protect natural water reservoirs such as wetlands is generally discouraged Deutschlandfunk was compiled.

Climate change is leading to an increase in heavy rainfall, which increases the risk of flooding, particularly in low mountain ranges and eastern Germany. The Flood Prevention Act, which is intended to promote the construction of dams and dikes, is one of many legislative proposals that are being discussed politically. It remains to be seen how the legal framework will develop in the future and what long-term goals can be pursued.

Overall, the key to success remains well-thought-out flood protection and personal commitment from citizens. Understanding your own risks and taking the right measures can be crucial to mastering the challenges of nature.