Storm surge drama: communities in MV demand help from the state government!

Storm surge drama: communities in MV demand help from the state government!

One year after the devastating storm surge on the Baltic Sea, which caused massive damage in October 2023, the affected communities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are left in ruins. A total of 56 million euros in damage was recorded nationwide, but the promised financial support from the state government has not been forthcoming. While neighbors in Schleswig-Holstein have already received 160 million euros for reconstruction, the municipalities in MV have to pay for the repairs themselves.

State government promises broken

The municipality of Sundhagen has been waiting for feedback on its funding application for months. Mayor Thomas Pauketat (CDU) is frustrated: “We waited until November for a sign, but the cancellation came in July.” The coastal protection measures that the country has commissioned for 13 million euros are not enough to repair the damage. The dikes are back in place, but the municipalities alone are bearing the costs. The Environment Minister emphasizes that the coastal defense systems have fulfilled their function, which only increases the disappointment.

Storm surge of 1872 as a memorial

The memory of the devastating storm surge of 1872, in which 271 people died, hangs over the affected coastal communities. This disaster is considered one of the worst in the history of the Baltic Sea and is now being used as a reminder of the current situation. The communities are urgently demanding support, while the state government is still not promising any concrete help. The destruction of promenades, piers and dikes shows that the consequences of the storm surge are far-reaching and could plunge the affected regions into a financial crisis.