Precautions taken – Residents of Lake Constance fear flooding

Only a few centimeters are missing – then Lake Constance has reached the five-metre limit. With every centimeter, residents’ fear of flooding increases. To prevent this, the pumps in most communities are already running at full speed. Under no circumstances should run-off water flow back into the inflow of Lake Constance.

“We are currently at 4.98 meters, from 5.20 meters it becomes serious,” said Michael Ritsch, mayor of the state capital Bregenz, on Friday evening. At 5.20 meters, visitors to the Kunsthaus would also get their feet wet.

The city council does not assume that the 5.20 meters will be achieved. “But with such heavy rain showers you can never be sure.” In any case, appropriate precautions have been taken: all pumps have been activated, the swimming pool has been secured and the walkways along the pipeline have been reinforced.

He is also in constant contact with those in charge of the state warning center. A meeting is planned for Saturday at the lake facilities with State Security Council member Christian Gantner and State Governor Markus Wallner.

Concrete blocks in Hard
In Hard, concrete blocks have been placed along the lake. “At Little Venice, the access road has been filled so boat owners can weatherproof their vehicles,” Mayor Martin Staudinger told ORF.

In Fußach, boat owners in the “Alte Ache Süd” harbor were asked to secure their boats as the electricity had been turned off as a precaution. Otherwise, the sandbags are ready and the fire brigade is on standby.