In the disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, numerous people died in their own cellars. It is particularly dangerous there during floods.
Frankfurt am Main – After extremely heavy rain, a storm of historic proportions developed in the west of Germany in the summer of 2021. Entire places and regions were massively flooded. The floods have left a field of devastation in many places. Many people are left with nothing, many have lost their lives in the floods – some of them in their own basement. Because when the water begins to flow into the house, many people instinctively try to save as much of their belongings as possible from the lower floors and the basement. But experts warn urgently against going into the basement again in the event of flooding – this can be a deadly trap.
Especially in the case of heavy rain, which often occurs in connection with thunderstorms and is therefore difficult to predict, there is a risk of a rapid rise in water levels, floods and massive flooding. When the water can no longer run off, it flows on the surface into residential areas and penetrates the buildings through basement windows, entrances or light shafts. The German Weather Service (DWD) differentiates between three warning levels in case of heavy rain:
- Distinctive weather warning at 15 to 25 liters of water per square meter per hour.
- Storm warning at 25 to 40 liters of water per square meter per hour.
- Warning of extreme storms: More than 40 liters of water per square meter per hour.
Flood in the basement: Beware of electric shocks
If the water masses then penetrate the building, it can quickly become dangerous for the residents. The first danger lurks in the case of flooding when there is little water in the basement: an electric shock. As soon as the water reaches the level of open electrical lines or sockets, it can become dangerous. In some cellars this height is reached after just a few centimeters. Not only can this cause a short circuit that leaves you in a dark basement. Since water is a very good conductor, there is a risk of fatal electric shock the first time you step into the water.
The electricity must therefore be switched off before entering the basement. If the junction box cannot be reached because it is in the basement, for example, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) advises you to alert the fire brigade immediately. If the electricity is switched off and there is no more water flowing in, the damage should be documented for the insurance company before pumping out and cleaning up.
Flood Hazard: Why Cellars Are So Dangerous
The next big danger that lurks in the basement during floods is that the pressure of the water masses on windows and doors quickly locks you in the rooms and you can no longer escape. “Problems with opening doors can arise when the water level in the basement is less than 50 centimeters,” explains Christoph Schöneborn, spokesman for the North Rhine-Westphalian Fire Brigade Association for the WDR. If the cellar is then completely full, there is an acute risk of drowning.
Only when the door is completely submerged is there another chance to open it. However, Schöneborn advises not to let it get that far and to call the emergency number 112 to alert the fire brigade before the basement is completely full. It is therefore advisable to always have a cell phone with you when there is flooding and the risk of heavy rain.
Flooding in your own basement: Beware of loose objects
Danger number three if there is a flood in the basement: objects floating around. When the water level in the basement rises, furniture and objects begin to float. This creates tripping hazards and in the worst case scenario you can be trapped between objects and walls or pushed under water by the floods. Here, too, there is an acute danger to life. If dangerous substances leak in the basement, such as heating oil, you should definitely alert the fire brigade. (iwe)
