Red alarm level: Dikes in Winsen and Lüneburg threaten to fail!

Red alarm level: Dikes in Winsen and Lüneburg threaten to fail!

Winsen/Lüneburg, Deutschland - alarm mood in Winsen/Lüneburg! Experts beat their hands over their heads: the dyke systems on the Elbe are in a catastrophic state and cannot adequately protect the population in the event of a crisis. The climate crisis has long since reached the adjacent regions, and the outdated protective walls could have devastating consequences in the event of a flood event. Who is responsible for the urgently needed renovation that could cost hundreds of million euros?

The district councilors Rainer Rempe (Harburg) and Jens Böther (Lüneburg) and the dike associations demand immediate measures. "The seriousness of the situation does not seem to be sufficiently aware of the country," warn those responsible. The dikes along the Elbe, but also the smaller protective dikes in the interior, are no longer designed for the challenges of climate change and the extreme weather conditions. The latest dike shows have shown that many systems from the 19th century come and urgently need to be modernized.

massive investment backlog in dike

The situation is alarming: the investment backlog among dikes in the Region is now around 200 million euros. While Lower Saxony has already provided 100 million euros for flood protection, this is far from sufficient. The district councilors are calling for more staff, less bureaucracy and an acceleration of the approval processes. "We see the situation with concern. So far we have been lucky," says Rempe and emphasizes that time is pushing.

The dikes must be increased by up to 1.30 meters to meet the current standards. The main dike from the Hamburg state border to the district of Lüneburg is only an example of the inadequate security situation. The district administrators appeal to Environment Minister Christian Meyer (Greens) to give flood protection to the highest priority. "The protection of people in the affected areas must have priority," said Böther. The teachings from the floods in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt show that quick action is possible-but time remains in Lower Saxony.