Tyrol's risk of flooding: every sixth inhabitant in risk zone!

Tyrol's risk of flooding: every sixth inhabitant in risk zone!

Schwaz, Österreich - In Tyrol, the flood risk is an increasingly pressing topic. According to a current analysis, around 15.3 % of the Tyrolean population live in so-called HQ100 areas. Statistically, these zones are affected by heavy floods every 100 years, which affects around 106,000 people in the region. For comparison: the average of Austria is 8.6 % and makes Tyrol one of the most endangered federal states. The risks are particularly high in the districts of Schwaz with 26.9 % and Kitzbühel, where 24.6 % of the population lives in these flood areas. This shows that flood protection in Tyrol is urgently necessary - there is something.

The regional differences are considerable. While an alarming number of 82 % of the population lives in HQ100 zones in silence in the Zillertal, only 2 % of possible floods in Zell am Ziller have to adjust to the Ziller. Such numbers illustrate the need for targeted spatial planning and a well -founded risk assessment to offer the Tyroleans security. The data is therefore not only paying, but an important basis for future planning.

flood and climate change

When analyzing the flood problem, the effects of climate change must not be ignored. An HKC congress that took place in 2020 targeted the rising heavy rain events. Here it became clear that the hydrological loads play a central role in determining the flooding. Dr. Oliver Buchholz, spokesman for the HKC project group, emphasized that many of the new challenges in flood protection are caused by the climatic changes. In particular, the increase in heavy rain events since 1995 has shown the urgency of rethinking in flood management.

worldwide have become more difficult and intensive since the 1950s, and this also has an impact on the rainfall in Austria. For example, heavy rains in autumn 2024 were devastating in several European countries, including Tyrol, and have already led to numerous floods. Scientists warn that climate change and extreme weather events go hand in hand.

measures for the future

In order to improve the situation, both natural flood protection measures and preventive disaster protection strategies are necessary. In Germany, this is funded by a national flood protection program. Such a program could also serve as a model for Tyrol to minimize the dangers. Nevertheless, there is still a need for action in politics, be it in terms of finance or in the search for constant solutions for flood protection areas. Crucial agreements are often missing here that could secure the protection in the long term.

we come back to Tyrol: The awareness of the risks that water management brings with it must be increased. Experts not only call for more information, but also increased cooperation between the communities in order to make flood protection more effective. As is well known, the flood has many faces, but the Tyroleans should not wait for the water to be up to the door threshold to act. Prevention is the key!

Sources: MeinDärzirk , Readkong , Deutschlandfunk .