Unternavigation:
BEHAVIOURAL PRECAUTION
Behavioural precaution
Information, education, and preparation are the requirements for the behavioural precaution. Its effect relies on the growth of the danger awareness and the realisation of one’s own options of action. Through this a long term reduction of increasing damages can be expected. The flood warning is, as well as the information and the preparation, one precondition of the behavioural precaution.
The flood leaflet can be downloaded here.
download (PDF, 1.4 MB)In order for residents who are affected by the flood can inform themselves individually and effectively, the flood protection centre Cologne will answer the most frequent asked questions:
- When does the flood risk start?
- When will the flood protection centre Cologne be occupied?
- Follow the instructions of the flood protection centre!
- Is basic equipment necessary?
- Collect experience data!
- What can be done for sick and high-maintenance people?
- What do I have to watch out for when leaving my car or other vehicles?
- What do I do when the telephone fails?
- What do I have to keep in mind considering the power supply?
- What do I have to keep in mind considering the disposal of waste?
- Who can help me when problems concerning the power, water, and gas supply occur?
- How do I receive up-to-date details and information?
- How do I behave as a new resident?
- When will boats and vehicles be used and when will the footbridges be installed?
When does the flood risk start?
When the water level reaches 6.00m C. G. you should check up if there is a flood risk.
You receive updated water levels and predictions on the answering machine of the flood protection centre Cologne (02 21) 2 21 – 2 61 61 and on the homepage www.hochwasserinfo-koeln.de
Further you can get the water levels from 5:00 a.m., 1:00
p.m., 9:00 p.m. as well as the current water level on the answering
machine of the water and shipping authority
”Pegel Köln” (02 21) 1 94 29
When will the flood protection centre Cologne be occupied?
The flood protection centre and the citizen’s advice bureau are occupied during the day at water levels as of 5.50m C. G. At 7.50m C. G. they will be occupied around the clock. The flood protection centre is happy to answer any questions, such as:
- Information about flood endangered areas
- Choice of proper flood protection devices and measures
- Water levels and predictions (02 21) 2 21 – 2 61 61 (after the text please stay in the line)
If supporting measures are needed, such as ferry service, building of footbridges, pumping, sand bags or a supply shortfall please contact the operation controllers on site!
Follow the instructions of the flood protection centre!
Please follow the instructions of the flood control team and helping
staff on site. They have the necessary practice for these cases.
Stay calm and cool headed!!!
Is basic equipment necessary?
The fire department and other aid organizations use their own
equipment and are not able to loan any. So it is necessary to have an
own basic equipment in time. Keep basic equipment, which will last a
couple days, for you and your family at your disposal. You should check
your batteries, fuel, and medicine regularly.
This should include: :
- Battery supplied radio (check batteries regularly)
- Charged cell phone
- Lighting: Thick candels, flashlights with batteries, oil lamp, matches
- Cooking device without electric current: spirit stove, camping stove, fuel stove, Charcoal grill or gas grill
- Heating: Gas bottle with heating adapter, hot water bottle, wool blanket, pocket warmer
- Medicine chest
- Sanitation (when the sewage water does not drain): Bowl for washing, chemical toilet or bucket with lid
- Clean drinking water (filled up in bottles ahead of time)
- Rubber boots
Just for frequently upcoming floods:
- Sand bags with material for filling
- Submerged pump with ground fault circuit interrupter and hose
- Life vest
- Warning light
- Emergency power generator
Collect experience data!
The flood protection centre Cologne recommends to note these current water levels in order to recollect useful information’s to one’s own area. Please see the below example. This way you collect important data and you are able to act on time when the next flood comes.
What can be done for sick and high-maintenance people?
Make sure that sick and high-maintenance people are placed at relatives or friends houses on time. Or organize help from private services or help organizations in order to keep up the medical care. Please consider that the help organizations cannot come for minor problems. In case that the health or life is in jeopardy dial the emergency numbers 110 or 112 .
What do I have to watch out for when leaving my car or other vehicles?
Move your car or other vehicles out of the flood risk areas on time. Check where you can park them. Do not handicap help organizations or neighbours when moving the vehicles!
What do I do when the telephone fails?
Keep your cell phone with a fully charged battery at your disposal. Neighbours can help each other when the phone lines fail..
What do I have to keep in mind considering the power supply?
Turn off the power in the flooded rooms and keep up an emergency light. Check with your electric utility company when the power in your street will be turned off.
What do I have to keep in mind considering the disposal of waste?
The Cologne waste company (AWB) tries to empty all private garbage cans in time before an area is flooded. Ensure that your garbage cans and cans for recyclable waste are secured and cannot be washed away. Bulk waste is to be disposed separately! AWB Customer service: 0221 92 22 224
Who can help me when problems concerning the power, water, and gas supply occur?
In emergency cases or problems concerning the power, gas, or water supply call RheinEnergie (0180) 22 22 600 (6 Cent per call from German landline) or RWE (02234) 51 70
How do I receive up-to-date details and information?
Listen to the flood news every hour for example on Radio Koeln
UKW/FM 107.1 MHz Radio RPR UKW/FM 103,5 MHz WDR 2 UKW/FM 100,4 MHz
In immediate danger of flood an alarm will be set off and
warnings over speaker phones will be announced in the endangered areas.
Up-to-date information about the water level can also be looked up on
the internet and per video text: www.hochwasserinfo-koeln.de
www.hochwasser-rlp.de
How do I behave as a new resident?
As a new resident with no flood experience please talk to your neighbours and learn from their know-how. Furthermore the staffs of the flood protection centre, the Cologne drainage & flood service company (StEB) as well as the RheinEnergie and the RWE are happy to help you.
