Bavarian Disaster Relief: Snow havoc in Bavaria persists since Friday night, with THW teams actively responding.
In the face of persistent heavy snowfall that has crippled parts of southern Bavaria since last night, the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) - Germany's federal voluntary emergency service - has sprung into action. With over 80,000 volunteers nationwide, half of whom are operational personnel, the THW has been instrumental in managing the crisis.
The snowfall has caused a power outage at a TETRA base station, which ensures the radio communication of aid organizations. The THW local unit in Landsberg is providing the power supply to ensure that deployment forces can communicate with each other via radio.
The THW's role extends beyond restoring communication. In Landsberg, THW personnel are assisting with the evacuation of 50 people from a stranded train, providing them with food and warm drinks.
18 local units across Bavaria are actively involved in the relief efforts. These include Rosenheim, Landsberg, Miesbach, Bad Aibling, Lindenberg, Sonthofen, Kempten, Altötting, Muhldorf, Simbach, Ergolding, Landshut, Freising, Munich-West, Munich-Land, Marktschwaben, Fürstenfeldbruck, and Dachau.
Over 250 THW personnel have been on the ground for over 12 hours, working tirelessly to combat the snowfall. Notably, many of these volunteers have been providing their assistance in their free time since yesterday evening.
The THW's expertise is highly sought after by fire services, police, aid organizations, and others due to its specialist knowledge and diverse experiences. THW construction experts are assessing the current risk of building collapse and advising on necessary measures in case of such a risk.
In addition to the assessment work, THW personnel are actively engaged in clearing roads and railways. In Munich, THW personnel from Munich, Fürstenfeldbruck, and Starnberg are clearing trucks stuck on federal roads and highways from the snow, aiming to keep traffic flowing. They are equipped with Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS), resembling climbing harnesses, for safety.
At Munich Airport, 40 THW helpers from Freising, Munich, and Marktschwaben are clearing heavy slush snow from the roofs using shovels to prevent collapse. Similarly, nearly 70 THW personnel from the local units Lindenberg, Solnhofen, and Kempten are clearing the snow from the roof of Oberstaufen station to prevent collapse.
Numerous THW experts are deployed throughout southern Bavaria, assessing deployment sites and advising cities and municipalities on the snow situation. The THW is also advising the districts on further measures regarding the heavy snow.
The THW's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Munich has completely shut down rail and air traffic due to the snowfall, but the THW's swift response has been crucial in managing the crisis. For further inquiries, contact the THW Bavarian State Association at the provided phone number, email, and website.
The exact number of THW units currently active in Bavaria that are not mentioned in the referenced reports is not specified in the provided search results. However, it is clear that the THW's commitment and dedication are making a significant difference in the face of this challenging weather situation.
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