Intense rainstorm leads to deployment of approximately 100 firefighters in Norderstedt, prompting a state of emergency declaration
On the evening of July 18, 2025, the picturesque town of Norderstedt, Germany, was hit by a heavy rain event that affected districts Garstedt and Glashütte. The Fire Department Norderstedt, along with the Norderstedt city administration, civil protection authorities, police, and technical relief organisations, sprang into action to manage the situation.
Between 5 PM and 6:30 PM, emergency services handled help requests almost back-to-back as numerous basements, underground garages, elevator shafts, and shopping passages were flooded. Road closures and flooded traffic areas were reported, causing disruptions across the town.
In response, the Norderstedt Fire Department activated its incident and command management, mobilising around 200 personnel from various fire departments and the public works department. Two false alarms were triggered, one by a fire alarm system and one by a smoke alarm, but these were swiftly addressed.
The Mayor of Norderstedt, Katrin Schmieder, expressed her gratitude towards the emergency services personnel and praised their quick, coordinated, and committed actions. She emphasised the importance of good preparation in such events and stated that the city can rely on its emergency services.
The Cooperative Regional Control Center West in Elmshorn declared an exceptional situation to ensure the necessary resources were made available. Throughout the ordeal, Mayor Schmieder was continuously updated about the situation.
Contact details for the Fire Department Norderstedt were provided for further inquiries. The original content of the article was transmitted by the Fire Department Norderstedt. The exact number of deployments cannot be definitively determined yet.
Mayor Schmieder concluded by expressing her appreciation for the professional and orderly handling of the deployments, despite the high load. The town of Norderstedt, and its residents, can take comfort in knowing that their emergency services are well-prepared and ready to respond in times of need.
This article was published by news aktuell.
