What to do in the event of flooding?: Chemnitz.de

Picture: Stadt Chemnitz

Flooding occurs as a result of prolonged, widespread continuous rainfall or due to short-lived, heavy downpours, sometimes in conjunction with snowmelt. This leads to temporary flooding of land that is not normally covered by water.

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 face, what preparations need to be made and what action to take in an emergency.

Take your own precautions

Keep an eye on the latest news reports in the media! Anyone who may be affected by flooding is obliged, within the limits of their capabilities and what is reasonable, to take their own precautionary measures to protect against flooding and minimise damage. The use of land must also be adapted to the potential risks to people, the environment and property posed by flooding. This is regulated by law in Section 5(2) of the Water Resources Act (WHG).

The NINA alert app

Information about the NINA warning app

The city of Chemnitz is now using the federal government's emergency information and messaging 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.

more

Emergency call fire brigade 112

Picture: ©Comofoto - stock.adobe.com

In the event of a particular danger, call the emergency number! Make sure in good time that people who are ill or in need of care are accommodated with relatives and friends where possible.

Check current water levels

In the event of heavy rainfall and prolonged downpours, monitor the water levels in streams in your area and check the water levels of the Chemnitz, Würschnitz and Zwönitz rivers. Make use of the various information sources provided by the Saxony State Flood Centre (LHWZ)!

Flood warning levels at the gauging stations Reference water level in cm	1	2	3	4
Chemnitz Chemnitz gauge	180	230	280	330
Würschnitz Jahnsdorf gauge	130	170	190	230
Zwönitz Water Level Burkhardtsdorf	130	170	210	250

The following options are available for regularly checking current water levels and forecasts:

Internet: Information on current water levels, discharge rates, rainfall, flood warnings and forecasts, Flood Centre: www.hochwasserzentrum.sachsen.de
Water level information service of the Free State of Saxony on tel.: 0351 8928260 or 0351 4517260:
After dialling, press ‘0’ to select either
Chemnitz 564400
Würschnitz at Jahnsdorf 564611
Würschnitz at Harthau 564620
Zwönitz at Burkhardtsdorf 564505
Zwönitz in Altchemnitz 564505
Voice output of flood warnings on 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 flooding and overflow. In Chemnitz, hazard maps are available for the Würschnitz, Zwönitz, Chemnitz, Kappelbach and Pleißenbach watercourses.

more

The most important rules to follow during a flood

Inside the house:

Check whether your precautionary measures are adequate.
Check backflow valves in the cellar before the water rises.
Do not stay in the cellar during flooding – it is life-threatening!
Seal windows, doors and drainage outlets.
Switch off electrical appliances and heating systems in rooms that are at risk of flooding.
Be aware of the risk of electric shock! If necessary, switch off the power completely (remove the fuse).

In the car:

Move your car out of at-risk garages or car parks in good time.
Warning! Underground car parks can become deadly traps when there is a risk of flooding.
Do not drive through flooded roads! Water in the engine compartment causes a great deal of damage.
Have your vehicle towed away if it is submerged in water up to and over the wheels.

Save lives:

Help others, but do not put yourself in danger.
Get children out of the flood zone to safety before danger sets in.
Do not take boats or other vehicles for unnecessary ‘cruises’ in flooded areas due to the risk of waves and submerged obstacles.
Do not enter areas along the riverbanks due to the risk of scouring or landslides. Do not drive on flooded or partially flooded roads.
Follow the instructions and respect the barriers set up by the emergency services!

Keep up to date via regional media, the city’s website and social media (Facebook / Instagram / Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon / X), via the City of Chemnitz’s public helpline, which is activated during major operations and emergency situations, the website of the State Flood Centre or the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK).

Protecting your own home

If a flood warning has been issued that affects you, you should take action.

To protect your property, obtain sandbags, formwork boards, waterproof plywood sheets and silicone.
Ensure that hazardous substances or chemicals cannot be reached by the water.
Move valuable furniture or equipment such as computers etc. to upper floors that are protected from flooding.
Secure your heating oil tank against buoyancy by, for example, anchoring it to the wall or weighing it down with ballast.
Check your precautionary measures. Do you have everything you need in the house?
- sufficient food and drinking water
- a battery-powered radio or a hand-crank radio
- a torch
- a camping stove
- a camping toilet
Keep important documents and your emergency kit to hand.
Also remember to have insect repellent to hand, in case mosquitoes and other pests spread through the house once the floodwaters have receded.
Clear out any basement rooms where groundwater may seep in or which may flood.

You can have sandbags filled with sand free of charge at sandbag filling stations and take them away with you.

Further measures to prevent damage

Switch off the electricity
Make sure the electricity is switched off in flooded rooms. Ensure there is emergency lighting. Make arrangements with your neighbour in case your telephone stops working.

Switch off heating systems
Protect your heating system. Switch off burners, boilers, etc. in good time so that they can be removed once they have cooled down. If you have gas heating, do not forget to close the gas valves.

Move vehicles away
Move cars and other vehicles out of your garages and properties at risk of flooding; also leave car parks at risk of flooding.

Secure building sites
Building sites in riverside areas and flood-prone areas must be cleared and secured. Mobile sales units and similar structures must be moved away or completely cleared and secured to prevent them from being swept away.

Help with technical faults

Drinking water	0371 525-2222
Wastewater	0371 525-2247
Natural gas	0371 525-2555
Electricity and street 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:

Flood warning with sirens

There are currently 47 sirens installed at various locations across the city of Chemnitz.

43 of these are capable of emitting both warning tones and voice announcements (electronic sirens). These have mainly been installed along the watercourses of the Würschnitz, Zwönitz, Chemnitz, Pleißenbach and Kappelbach.

Please pay attention to warning tones and announcements.
> Siren locations and warning tones

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.

After the flood

Once the water has receded, normal conditions must be restored as quickly as possible. Targeted follow-up measures can limit the extent of the damage and prevent further damage:

Dispose of contaminated items, building components and unsealed food. Sandbags must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
Check electrical appliances, heating systems, fuel tanks and fireplaces before putting them back into use.
Take photographs or videos of all damage and report this to your insurance company immediately.
Mark the water levels reached in and around the building with lines or markings.
Do not begin pumping out flooded rooms until you are certain that the water table has dropped sufficiently. Pumping out water too soon can lead to a loss of structural stability and permanent damage to the masonry.
Dry out the affected areas as quickly as possible. In some cases, basement windows and doors may need to be removed from their frames. If natural ventilation is insufficient, obtain drying equipment. You can buy or hire these from specialist retailers or DIY stores. So-called gas-powered building dryers can be used specifically to dry wet walls. You can also have the drying carried out by a specialist firm.
Be patient. It may take months or even a whole year for the premises to dry out completely.

Questions regarding the handling of foodstuffs damaged by water can be answered by the relevant food safety authority.
Tel.: 0371 488-3901
Email:

The Office for Health and Prevention is available to answer any questions regarding infection control and hygiene.
Tel.: 0371 488-5832, 0371 488-5320
Email: