Bavaria Experiences Century-Scale Flood: A Heartfelt Recap of THW's Role in the Crisis
THW Steps Up in Bavaria's Flood Disaster
The Technical Relief Agency (THW), Germany's federal voluntary emergency response organisation, played a crucial role in the aftermath of last year's severe flooding in Bavaria. With over 86,000 volunteers nationwide, half of whom are operational personnel, the THW was at the forefront, providing assistance and managing the disaster.
Last May, large parts of Bavaria were hit hard, particularly the administrative regions of Swabia, Upper, and Lower Bavaria. In response, all 111 Bavarian local associations of the THW were involved in supporting the affected areas for several weeks.
The THW's deployment demonstrated the importance of their emergency services' readiness and camaraderie. Day and night, THW forces pumped out millions of liters of water using high-performance pumps with a capacity of up to 25,000 liters per minute. Thousands of sandbags were filled and built by hand by the THW volunteers to secure dams from breaking.
In addition to their pumping and sandbagging efforts, the THW set up mobile flood gauges for continuous water level monitoring and to inform necessary authorities in case of a rapid water rise. Separation plants were also established and operated by the THW to separate oil and water, reducing special waste quantities by around 90% and creating usable water. Over 3.5 million liters of oil-water mixture were filtered using these plants.
The THW's commitment extended beyond the cleanup efforts. They provided up to 7,000 meals daily to their own and other emergency services, preparing them directly on site in the disaster area. So-called clearing groups, equipped with excavators, wheel loaders, and telescopic handlers, supported cleanup operations by clearing roads and paths of mud, debris, and rubble.
Dr. Fritz Helge Voß, THW Bavaria's state representative, praised the extraordinary feats performed by the THW volunteers during the crisis. The current state spokesperson (Landessprecher) of the THW in Bavaria is not explicitly named in the available search results.
The THW Bayern is committed to being ready for action in the future, providing swift and reliable assistance in case of disasters and emergencies. For inquiries, contact THW Landesverband Bayern at the provided contact information. The THW also provides technical and logistical assistance within the EU's civil protection mechanism and on behalf of UN organizations.
In these challenging times, the THW's dedication and hard work serve as a testament to the power of community spirit and volunteerism in times of crisis.
