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Flood protection in Friedland: Mayor fights bureaucratic hurdles
Göttingen: Flood protection remains insufficient; Mayor demands quick measures against future floods.
Flood protection in Friedland: Mayor fights bureaucratic hurdles
In Friedland, Lower Saxony, the municipality is once again facing a flood protection dilemma. Mayor Andreas Friedrichs expressed his frustration about the constant flood threats in the region. Despite a plan for a flood concept that shows theoretical solutions for extreme weather conditions, the implementation of permits and political approval fails. Friedrichs emphasizes that the municipality has been struggling with the consequences since the 2016 flood and even developed solutions are thwarted, while the need for immediate ability to act remains unmistakable, how Göttinger Tageblatt reported.
A crucial problem is the protection of a rare sponge ecosystem in a nearby Kiessee, which conflicts the diversion plans in the event of a disaster. Friedrichs calls for more courage and determination in the event of measures to combat the flood risk. The topic of flood protection must be at the top of the urgent political priorities and do not stand behind ecological considerations. In addition, a survey in which the ISOE institute has participated is pursuing the fact that hurdles such as a lack of means and personnel resources in climate adaptation put a great burden on the municipalities. Only twelve percent of the communities surveyed have developed a comprehensive climate adaptation concept, which shows that implementation in many municipalities is still in its infancy, how FR.DE reported.
The survey found that, in view of the increasingly common extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, many municipalities see a great need for adaptation not only in the event of floods, but also in the area of water management. The lack of personnel and financial resources often hinder the urgently needed measures. Friedrichs hopes that through increased communication with the citizens and efficient internal cooperation, personal responsibility in flood regions can be strengthened in order to minimize the risks of flooding. Time is urging, because the next century flood could be at the door at any time.