Billions in damage in BW: The fight to rebuild after the storms!

Billions in damage in BW: The fight to rebuild after the storms!

After the devastating storms in June 2024 that hit the whole of Baden-Württemberg, the affected communities must expect enormous damage. In Rudersberg, one of the worst affected cities, flood damage amounts to around 120 million euros. The heavy rains led to flooding that severely damaged numerous roads, bridges and even railway lines. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior has already identified a need for investment of 65 million euros for necessary repairs, while the total damage in the Stuttgart administrative region is estimated at around 444 million euros SWR reported.

New push for compulsory insurance against natural hazards

The increasing number of extreme weather events make a further push for nationwide compulsory insurance against natural hazards necessary. Baden-Württemberg wants to put this topic on the agenda at the next conference of interior ministers. State Interior Minister Thomas Strobl criticized the fact that no legal regulation had been passed despite the high number of damages. Currently only every second residential building in Germany is insured against the consequences of heavy rain or flooding. In Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, the insurance rate is an impressive 94 percent, which can be attributed to previous compulsory state insurance. The district recently provided an aid package worth 25 million euros to support the communities affected by the June floods daily news.

Against this background, it is important not only to restore the damaged infrastructure, but also to obtain better protection for future extreme weather events. Current government efforts aim to create a stronger legal foundation for natural disaster insurance to mitigate the financial impact of future extreme weather events.