Hi everyone,

yesterday was the first day since weeks that I saw the sun (honestly!). What a strange but totally liberating feeling. Though it is June, the last weeks have been affected by dark grey, cold temperatures and heavy rain. Already in May I wondered if the gulf stream ran dry…

Well, it finally seems that the Tief (depression) is over. At least in most parts of Germany. But it definitely has left it´s marks.

Big areas has been überflutet (flooded). Especially regions in the east and southeast of Germany were hit by the water masses. To avoid worse disasters, a lot of people have been evakuiert (evacuated). Electricity and die Trinkwasserversorgung (drinking water supply) have been switched off in city centres. Even the Bundeswehr  (German armed forces) has moved out to secure rain-sodden Deiche (dikes) with sandbags and heavy machinery. When I see the news, it´s really hard to believe that this happens just a few kilometres away…for we have fortunately been spared!

Already in 2002 there was the so called “Jahrhundertflut” (flood of the century) in Germany and a lot of people who lost their houses, their cars, just everything back then, are affected again these days.  Beside the financial Schaden (damage) that must be millions and millions, I think it is also hard not to lose courage in starting all over again.

While the situation is getting better in many regions, especially cities and communities along the river Elbe are still worried about increasing Flusspegel (river stages). In Halle an der Saale, there is the highest level since 400 years!

If you are interested in the status quo, you can take a look at this website (german).

So what about your countries and regions? Did you experience a similar disastrous springtime?

To all the victims: Stay strong! Hopefully the worst is over very soon!

Some vocabulary to this post:
das Tief – depression
überflutet – flooded
evakuieren – to evacuate
die Trinkwasserversorgung – drinking water supply
die Bundeswehr – German armed forces
der Deich – dike
die Jahrhundertflut – flood of the century
der Schaden – damage
der Flusspegel – river stage