Germany: Authorities in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, prepare some residents for possible evacuations, announce no-fly zone as of Dec. 31 due to flooding

Authorities in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, are preparing residents for possible evacuations of the Sandkrugerstrasse and Achterdiek areas of the city as of Dec. 31 due to the risk of floodwaters breaching local dikes. Local officials' preparations for evacuations come amid heavy rain and consequent flooding that have impacted much of Germany in recent days, including Lower Saxony. In addition to preparing residents to evacuate, authorities have implemented a no-fly zone in the airspace over Oldenburg that will be in effect until at least Jan. 3 to facilitate operational and reconnaissance flights. Crews will also begin to build a mobile dike system in the Sandkrugerstrasse area early Jan. 1 to mitigate the risk of flooding from a possible dike breach on the Huntedeich. Officials may prepare residents in other areas of Oldenburg for possible evacuations and take similar measures to protect those neighborhoods over the coming days.

As of late Dec. 31, the German Weather Service had issued an orange-level warning (the second-lowest level on a four-tier scale) for continuous rain that was scheduled to be in effect in Oldenburg 18:00 Jan. 1-18:00 Jan. 3. Authorities could extend, rescind, or otherwise modify the abovementioned weather warning or others in effect in Germany on short notice.

The forecast precipitation could exacerbate the risk of flooding and dike breaches in Oldenburg and surrounding areas over the coming days. Flooding is particularly likely to impact low-lying areas near watercourses. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Like in Oldenburg, officials may prepare residents of other flood-prone communities to evacuate. Disruptions to electricity, water supply, and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks.

Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. Flooding could block regional rail lines; freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are possible in areas that experience heavy rainfall and track inundation.

Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, evacuation orders, or some employees' inability to reach work sites.