What to do in the event of flooding?
In an emergency, those affected have little time to react effectively. This makes it all the more important to know in advance what specific risks you may be exposed to, what preparations need to be made and what behaviour makes sense in an emergency.
Take your own precautions
Pay attention to current reports in the media! Anyone who may be affected by flooding is obliged to take their own precautionary measures to protect themselves against flooding and to minimise damage as far as possible and reasonable. The use of land must also be adapted to the potential risks to people, the environment and property from flooding. This is regulated by law in § 5 Para. 2 of the Federal Water Act (WHG).
Information about the NINA warning app
The city of Chemnitz is now using the federal government's emergency information and news app - NINA for short. This enables interested parties to receive important civil protection alerts for various hazardous situations, such as evacuations due to the discovery of a bomb, the spread of hazardous substances, a major fire or warnings of flooding on Chemnitz's 1st order rivers.
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Emergency call fire brigade 112
If you are in particular danger, call the emergency number! Ensure in good time that sick people and those in need of care are accommodated with relatives and friends if possible.
Check current water levels
In the event of heavy precipitation and prolonged rainfall, monitor the water levels in the streams in your neighbourhood and find out about the water levels in the Chemnitz, Würschnitz and Zwönitz rivers. Use the various information sources of the Saxony State Flood Centre (LHWZ)!
| Alarm levels of the flood warning gauges Indicative water level in cm | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemnitz Gauge Chemnitz | 180 | 230 | 280 | 330 |
| Würschnitz Water level Jahnsdorf | 130 | 170 | 190 | 230 |
| Zwönitz gauge Burkhardtsdorf | 130 | 170 | 210 | 250 |
The following options are available for constantly checking current water levels and forecasts:
- Internet:Information on current water levels, flow rates, precipitation, flood warnings and forecasts, Flood Centre:www.hochwasserzentrum.sachsen.de, LfULG:www.smul.sachsen.de/lfulg.
- Water level announcement service of the Free State of Saxony on tel.: 0351 8928260 or 0351 4517260:
After entering "0", press either for the
Chemnitz 564400
Würschnitz in Jahnsdorf 564611
Würschnitz in Harthau 564620
Zwönitz in Burkhardtsdorf 564505
Zwönitz in Altchemnitz 564505 - Voice output of flood warnings under Tel.: 0351 8928 261 or 0351 4517 261.
- Teletext on MDR television from page 530
View flood hazard maps
Hazard maps visualise the risks posed by floods to people and property. For flood events with different (e.g. 50-, 100-year) recurrence intervals, the expected floods are shown in their spatial extent as well as bridge/culvert structures endangered by damming and overflowing. In Chemnitz, hazard maps are available for the Würschnitz, Zwönitz, Chemnitz, Kappelbach and Pleißenbach watercourses.
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Help with technical faults
| Drinking water | 0371 525-2222 |
| Waste water | 0371 525-2247 |
| Natural gas | 0371 525-2555 |
| Electricity and city lighting | 0371 525-4444 |
| District heating and cooling | 0371 525-4999 |
| South Saxony: Natural gas | 0371 451-444 |
Report damage to bodies of water
Information on damage to bodies of water, water management facilities and structures, and accumulations and deposits of rubbish on the banks of bodies of water can be obtained from the Environmental Agency.
Tel.: 0371 488 3601, 0371 488 3620
E-mail:
Call the city administration / citizens' hotline
In emergencies and in the event of particular dangers, a citizens' hotline is available. Watch out for publications in the media. The staff will provide information on, for example, sandbag filling sites, volunteer help, emergency accommodation or forward your call to specialised agencies. You can find the number directly on the homepage in the event of flooding.
You can also obtain information from the city administration before an emergency occurs Mon - Fri from 8:00 to 18:00. Public authority telephone number: 115
Central telephone number of the city administration: 0371 488-0
Flood warning with sirens
In Chemnitz, 37 sirens are currently installed at various locations throughout the city.
31 of these can send both signalling tones and voice announcements (electronic sirens). So far, these have been installed along the watercourses of Würschnitz, Zwönitz, Chemnitz, Pleißenbach and Kappelbach.
Listen out for signalling tones and announcements.
> Siren locations and signal tones
Warn children
Warn children of the dangers of flooding and do not allow them to stay in the immediate vicinity of the river bank or in flooded areas!
Working together with neighbours
If you have recently moved to a flood-prone area and are experiencing flooding for the first time, seek advice from long-established residents and utilise their experience. Continue your own initiative and efforts during the course of the flood. Help your neighbours too.
Purchase basic personal equipment
Make sure you have your own basic equipment in good time. Remember that the fire brigade and other aid organisations need their own equipment and cannot borrow it. You will need these items:
- Mains-independent radio (charge batteries regularly)
- Lighting: candles, torch with batteries, paraffin lamp with paraffin, lamp attachment for camping gas bottle, matches
- Cooking facilities independent of electricity: spirit cooker, camping gas cooker, petrol cooker, dry spirit cooker with fuel
- Emergency provisions and drinking water
- Heater: camping gas bottle with heater attachment
- Hot water bottles, woollen blankets, first-aid kit
- Personal hygiene utensils: If there is no drainage, use a wash bowl and toilet bucket with lid or camping toilet.
- Rubber boots, waders.
Check cellar and low-lying rooms and empty if necessary
Higher water levels cause the groundwater to rise, which is why even low-lying parts of buildings further away from bodies of water are at risk. In addition, increased surface water runoff is to be expected, especially on slopes.
- You should therefore check your cellar rooms in good time and take precautionary measures.
- Seal basement windows and doors with sandbags. Take long-term precautions by purchasing modern insulating beam systems
- Only place and store items in the basement that can withstand flooding or that can be removed quickly and safely
- If there are water inlets in low-lying rooms, these must be closed or the backflow flaps checked for proper functioning.
- Clear cellars, garages and low-lying rooms early enough and store the inventory in a flood-proof place.
- Support each other and use the citizens' hotline to find out whether volunteer helpers are available.
Further measures to prevent damage
Switch off the power
Ensure that the power is switched off in flooded rooms. Provide emergency lighting. Make an agreement with your neighbour in case your telephone fails.
Switch off heating systems
Protect your heating system. Switch off burners, boilers etc. in good time so that they can be removed when they have cooled down. Do not forget to close the gas valves on gas heating systems.
Secure oil tanks
Immediately secure oil tanks and connection lines against buoyancy by means of professional fastening (e.g. anchoring). In an emergency, the tanks should be flooded.
Remove environmentally hazardous substances
Oil and other water-polluting substances not only contaminate the water and your rooms, but also the surroundings and the environment. If, despite all safety measures, environmentally hazardous substances leak out, call the fire brigade immediately. Any delay will make the damage much worse. Do not store containers with used oil, chemicals, paints, varnishes, detergents and cleaning agents etc. in rooms at risk of flooding.
Drive vehicles away
Drive cars and other vehicles out of your flood-prone garages and properties, and leave flood-prone car parks.
Secure construction sites
Construction sites in riverbank areas and in flood-prone areas must be cleared and secured. Mobile sales facilities etc. must be driven away or completely cleared and secured against being washed away.
After the flood
- Remove any remaining water and mud. Caution: Do not pump out flooded rooms until the flood water has drained away and the groundwater level has dropped sufficiently to prevent damage to the structure. Caution! Do not pump out water contaminated with oil and toxic substances!
- Have damaged building structures professionally inspected, especially with regard to stability.
- Floor coverings and wall panelling should be removed or opened for inspection.
- Dry affected parts of the building as quickly as possible to prevent structural damage, mould or other pest infestation. Heating appliances can support the drying process.
- Only put electrical appliances and systems back into operation after they have been checked by a specialist.
- Have heating oil tanks checked for damage.
- Dispose of contaminated furniture and food.
If you have any questions regarding the handling of food damaged by water, please contact the responsible food monitoring authority.
Tel.: 0371 488-3901
E-mail:
For questions about infection control and hygiene, please contact the Office for Health and Prevention.
Tel.: 0371 488-5832, 0371 488-5320
E-mail: