Starkregen and Flooding: How to Prepare Your Home and Family

Heavy rain can change conditions quickly. A period of intense rainfall may lead to surface flooding, flash floods, overflowing drainage systems and rising water levels. In Germany, this type of extreme rainfall is commonly referred to as Starkregen. The German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) explains that heavy rain can cause flash flooding even away from major rivers. This means that preparing for flooding is not only relevant to people living beside major rivers. Every household can benefit from knowing its risks and having a plan.

1.    Check Your Local Flood and Heavy Rain Risk

The first step is to understand the risks around your home. Look at local flood-risk and heavy-rain information and consider whether your home is near a river or stream, located in a low-lying area, or has a basement or underground garage. Also consider whether water could flow toward your property from higher ground or whether nearby roads could become flooded. Understanding the risk before an emergency occurs gives you more time to act.

2.    Prepare an Emergency Flood Kit

A basic emergency kit can help your household cope if severe weather causes disruption. Keep essential items somewhere that can be accessed quickly. If your home is vulnerable to flooding, avoid storing essential supplies in a basement or another low-lying area.

•        Drinking Water
•         Non-perishable food
•         Medication
•         First-aid Supplies
•         Flashlight and Batteries
•         Power Bank
•         Radio
•        Important Documents
•         Hygiene Supplies
•         Warm Clothing
•         
  Essential Baby or Eldery Care items

3. Protect Your Home Before Heavy Rain Arrives

Before severe rainfall, check gutters and drains, keep drainage routes clear, inspect basement access points, move valuables away from vulnerable areas, protect important electrical equipment and secure outdoor objects. Small maintenance tasks can become much harder once heavy rain has already started.

4. Keep Important Documents and Valuables Safe

Floodwater can damage documents, electronics and other irreplaceable items very quickly. Keep passports, identity documents, insurance information, medical information, financial documents and property records in waterproof containers where possible. Secure digital copies can provide an additional layer of protection.

5. Know What to Do During a Flash Flood

When heavy rain becomes severe, personal safety should come first. Follow current weather information, remain inside during dangerous flash flood conditions and avoid unnecessary exposure to floodwater. Do not walk through fast-moving water, enter flooded basements or drive through flooded roads.

6. Make a Family Communication Plan

A flood can disrupt roads, public transport, electricity and communication. Before an emergency happens, discuss where you would meet, who you would contact, how you would reach children or elderly family members and what happens if one person cannot return home.

7. Look Out for Vulnerable People in Your Community

Disaster preparedness is not only about protecting your own household. Some people may need additional assistance during extreme weather, including older people living alone, people with disabilities, families with young children, people with limited mobility and people without reliable transportation.

A simple phone call or check-in can make a difference. Community resilience begins with people looking out for one another.

From Prepared Communities to Humanitarian Response

Preparation can reduce risk, but it cannot prevent every disaster. When severe flooding strikes vulnerable communities, families may lose homes, access to clean water, food, livelihoods and essential services.

Human Initiative Europe identifies Initiative for Disaster Risk Management as one of its four main programme pillars and connects donors, volunteers and partner organisations to humanitarian and social-impact work.

Preparing ourselves matters. Supporting communities affected by disasters matters too. Together, preparedness and humanitarian action can help build stronger and more resilient communities.