8 January 2024
Mobile flood barrier protected Rinteln during the Christmas floods 2023
Extreme weather put Rinteln at risk
During the Christmas floods of 2023, which affected large parts of Germany, many towns faced the threat of severe flooding. Rinteln, a small town in Lower Saxony, was among the most vulnerable. To protect the community, the state’s disaster protection warehouse, Niedersachsen Katastrophenschutzlager, supplied Haawal’s mobile flood barrier for rapid local deployment.
Usecase summary:
Use case: Flood along river
User: Rinteln fire department
How many meters: 650 meters
Terrain: Concrete, gravel and grass
Protection height: 120cm
System: Haawal flood barrier
Outcome: Key infrastructure and city protected
650 meters of flood barrier deployed overnight
Concerns were rising that a nearby dam might not withstand the pressure of the floodwaters. If it had failed, a major flood would have hit Rinteln and surrounding areas. Fortunately, Lower Saxony had 1,000 meters of Haawal flood barrier in its emergency stockpile, quickly transported to the town when the danger increased.
In the middle of the night, the Rinteln fire brigade received the equipment and successfully deployed all 650 meters. Remarkably, this was done without any prior training or hands-on experience, demonstrating how easy the Haawal flood barrier is to install, even under pressure.
The flood barrier served as a vital line of defense and gave local residents reassurance during critical hours. Fortunately, the dam held, and Rinteln was spared from major flooding.
My fellow firefighters were able to successfully install the Haawal mobile flood protection barrier over a distance of 650 meters within a single night, without any prior knowledge of the system.
Tim Schinz
City Fire Chief, Rintelen
Proven performance for future flood preparedness
With a reliable flood barrier system, Lower Saxony is now better equipped for future flood threats. Rinteln’s experience proved how practical design and quick response can make all the difference when floods strike.
The Haawal System helped us enormously during the 2023/2024 flood event. We were very satisfied with the ease of use and the consequently quick installation of the system. In many areas, we were able to prevent more extensive damage.
Klaus-Peter Grote
District Fire Chief, Landkreis Schaumburg
Interested in learning more?
