Large-scale flood damage in the state incurring over 60 million euros in financial compensation

Authorities allocate over 60 million euros to cover flood-related damages - Large-scale flood damage in the state incurring over 60 million euros in financial compensation

One year on from the devastating floods in Southern Germany, the Bavarian state government has already doled out over 60 million euros in aid from various programs to those affected. The floods, which hit the region in early June 2024, prompted an immediate aid program, worth up to 200 million euros, to cover damages for private individuals, businesses, and farmers, regardless of insurance.

As of now, over 14,200 applications for immediate aid from private households have been filed, with over 36.4 million euros paid out for damages to household items or buildings. Furthermore, more than 2.1 million euros have been disbursed based on over 500 hardship fund applications.

In the agricultural sector, over 1,500 applications for aid have been submitted. To date, 21.9 million euros has been paid out to 1,353 businesses. For other companies and freelancers, 156 applications have been processed, with 132 still under review. Around 1.5 million euros have been paid out thus far.

In a bid to minimize future flood damage, the Free State plans to continue investing in flood protection. Since 2001, approximately four billion euros have been spent on flood measures. By 2030, further investments in the billions are planned, with funds to be used for constructing new dikes, flood protection walls, and renovating dams, as well as implementing nature-friendly projects, such as the renaturation of wild streams and the creation of floodplains.

Environmentalists urge authorities to rely less on controversial polders and dams in favor of more traditional floodplains that were often destroyed during previous river engineering initiatives. They advocate for landscape redesign that would allow the soil to better absorb water, reducing flood risks.

1. The Bavarian state government's community policy includes a focus on environmental science, as environmentalists are advocating for more traditional methods, such as the renaturation of wild streams and the creation of floodplains, to minimize future flood damage.
2. In the aftermath of the devastating floods, the employment policy in the Bavarian region has seen an influx of applications, particularly in the agricultural sector, where over 1,500 applications for aid have been submitted.
3. The industry sector, too, has been affected, with 156 applications for aid from companies and freelancers, indicating a potential need for employment policy interventions to support the recovery of the affected businesses.
4. Recognizing the economic impact of the floods, the government has allocated funds for the housing market and real estate sector. This emphasis on the housing-market and real-estate sector can be seen as part of a broader employment policy aimed at stimulating the local economy.
5. As part of their commitment to combat climate-change, the government is investing in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies. This investment in environmental-science and finance sectors can be seen as a long-term strategy to prepare the region for future environmental challenges, including those related to climate-change.

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