Storm chaos in Schwandorf: rescuers in constant action against the forces of nature!

Storm chaos in Schwandorf: rescuers in constant action against the forces of nature!

On Thursday, severe storms hit the Schwandorf district and caused extensive damage and numerous rescue services. The communities of Burglengenfeld, Maxhütte-Haidhof, Teublitz, Bruck and Neukirchen-Balbini were particularly affected. The Integrated Control Center (ILS) was quickly called upon and scheduled around 24 emergency locations before the district operations center (KEZ) was activated. Due to the worsening situation, the KEZ was put into operation, which meant that a further 70 operational locations could be coordinated Mittelbayerische.de reported.

The focus of operations was on storm damage, flooded streets and basements and power outages. The Bruck market was particularly hard hit, especially the Sollbach district, where streets were flooded and many trees fell. The power supply in Bruck and Mappach was interrupted until around 3 a.m., but the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) was able to quickly help with an emergency power supply. There was also significant storm damage in the city triangle, including two covered buildings that were secured by the THW emergency services.

Help and coordination in the event of storm damage

Thanks to the courageous efforts of numerous fire departments from the affected communities, including Burglengenfeld, Teublitz and Neukirchen-Balbini, the situation was quickly defused. District fire officer Christian Demleitner coordinated the measures on site, with KBI Christoph Beier in charge of the KEZ. The Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. was also in action and, with 24 emergency services and eight vehicles, ensured food for around 150 emergency services in Bruck. Your tool shed in Sollbach was supplied with emergency power by a 63kVa generator.

A total of around 500 THW emergency services were deployed throughout Bavaria to repair damage, as Bayern Aktuell reports. The helpers pumped out flooded cellars, removed fallen trees and secured covered roofs. Collaboration with local fire departments was crucial in overcoming the challenges quickly.

The danger is not over yet

The major clean-up work was still the focus of events on Friday. The day after the storm the damage in Bruck became clear. However, the next few days bring a new challenge: Extreme heat is expected again next week, which could increase the risk of wildfires and vegetation fires. The fire departments in the district have prepared well for such extreme weather events.

The background to these increasingly frequent extreme weather events is a topic of great interest. Analyzes show that climate change is increasing the likelihood of heavy rain events. An attribution study shows that climate change influences the probabilities of such events, making the need for future preparations even more urgent, according to DWD.

In these challenging times, cohesion and rapid action by the emergency services is of utmost importance to ensure the safety of the population.