Use flood hazard maps

In a bundle of measures, private homeowners' and companies' own precautions play just as important a role as the crisis management of the municipalities and the state's flood forecasting.

In this way, citizens and companies can recognise the extent to which they could be affected by flooding by taking a look at the hazard maps.
This is an important step in the context of self-preparedness.

In Baden-Württemberg, standardised flood hazard maps are produced for over 12,500 kilometres of watercourses across the state.
They show the spatial extent and inundation depths of floods with a high, medium and low probability of occurrence.

The underlying calculations are based on

• a digital terrain model (DTM) determined by a laser-scanned aerial survey and targeted measurements of the watercourse cross-sections,
• hydrological data from the regionalisation of the state of Baden-Württemberg or, if available, findings from existing river basin studies,
• consideration of all hydraulically relevant structures, such as bridges, flood retention basins and other flood protection structures. Previous flood events are also included in the calculations.

During the creation of the maps, the municipalities and districts review the drafts and contribute their experience and local knowledge.
Once finalised, the maps are published by the local authorities and the lower water authorities.
They are also available on the Internet via the online environmental data and map service.
In addition, the flood risk management enquiry service makes it possible to call up the flood depths at one point for the various flood scenarios and all available flood risk management planning information.