Motivation, Satisfaction, and Risks of Operational Forces and Helpers Regarding the 2021 and 2013 Flood Operations in Germany

Abstract

Pluvial floods claimed more than 180 lives in Germany in July 2021, when a large and slow-moving storm system affected Germany and many neighbouring countries. The death tolls and damages were the highest since 1962 in Germany, and soon after, the crisis management was under public critique. This study has undertaken an online survey to understand crisis management better and identify lessons to learn. It has received a positive interest among operational relief forces and other helpers (n = 2264). The findings reveal an overall satisfaction with the operation in general as well as personal lessons learned. It also reveals shortcomings in many areas, ranging from information distribution, coordination, parallel ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure resilience, and other factors. Just as well, areas for improvement of the crisis management system are suggested by the respondents. Cooperation and support by the affected population are perceived as positive. This helps to inform other areas of research that are necessary, such as studies on the perception by the affected people. The gaps in assessments of operational forces and some methodological constraints are discussed to advance future follow-up studies.

More Help Was Offered—But Was It Effective? First Responders and Volunteers in the 2021 Flood Disaster in Germany

“…Still, the results are in line with problems with the operation overall. While overall, satisfaction is higher than dissatisfaction, the percentages for positive replies are lower than those of a previous study we conducted after the 2013 floods in Germany [20,21].…”

“…In addition, the survey was informed by a focus group discussion with people helping on-site and within a pre-test round with national and international experts and volunteers as well. The survey design includes structured questions with a mix of 24 closed questions, including lists to select replies from and 7 additional open-ended entry options, documented in more detail in a previous publication [20]. The survey was set up on an open-source site (SoSciSurvey), which enabled translation into different languages.…”

When, at what speed, and how? Resilient transformation of the Vesdre river basin (Belgium) following the 2021 floods

“…Our study shows how the policy arrangement influences the temporal strategies that are important to be able to strengthen long-term resilience after an acute crisis, because policy-makers use them to integrate long-term perspectives in their choices which is needed given the long-term characteristics of climate-related issues. The July 2021 floods are a typical case that highlights different temporalities at stake in dual crises and therefore the importance of temporal strategies: on the one hand the challenges of rapid response and recovery [41,[60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70], on the other of long-term adaptation and resilience-building [12,14,16,17,71]. The temporal strategies help to promote a long-term focus in the aftermath of an acute shock [1], and the policy arrangement approach helps to identify factors of stability or change [36] of that policy domain.…”

Das Wetter ist politisch – Starkregen, Hochwasser und Flut vor der Bundestagswahl 2021

“…Organisatorische Unterstützung wurde in stärker betroffenen Regionen durch das Technische Hilfswerk, das Deutsche Rote Kreuz und die K Bundeswehr, in weniger betroffenen Regionen durch Feuerwehren geleistet. Eine Umfrage unter den Hilfeleistenden zeigt dabei eine insgesamt hohe Zufriedenheit mit der Organisation ihres Einsatzes in den Hochwassergebieten (Fekete 2021). Im besonders stark betroffenen Ahrtal wurde darüber das Gros der initialen Aufräumarbeiten durch freiwillige Helfende geleistet, insbesondere Landwirt:innen und Lohnunternehmer:innen mit Zugang zu schwerem Fuhrpark (WDR 2021 (Abney und Hill 1966;Bodet et al 2016;siehe auch Arceneaux und Stein 2006).…”