Hamburg port High tide wave

Prevention is the best protection

The port of Hamburg has state-of-the-art flood defence facilities and works according to the latest methods of Storm surge research.

There is, however, no hundred percent safety from the dangers of flood and storm surge. The faster we react, the lower the risk. This is true not only for the HPA. Port operators and the population in the vicinity of the harbor should also be well informed in order to react properly in case of emergency.

Hamburg port water wave

The announcements are made by WADI

If there is danger of high water levels, the Hamburg Storm Surge Warning Service WADI is consulted.
WADI assesses various water level and weather data measurements to create an accurate prognosis for the entry of high water into the port of Hamburg.

Values of more than 4.5m above sea level are considered severe storm surges. WADI now provides all significant water level prognoses.

Everything about WADI

SMS warning service for Hamburg - KATWARN

Storm surge: This is important

In short: information, preparation, attention.

If your residence or business is located in an area at risk, you should be aware of the dangers, warning channels and escape routes from the risk zone.

Prepare for an emergency by verifying protective measures and escape routes on your own property. Last but not least: If you are in danger, pay close attention to the radio broadcasts or make use of the WADI and city of Hamburg information services.

You can also use the free SMS warning service of the Department of the Interior and Sport and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA). This will keep you informed of closures or evacuations in a timely manner.

Hambugr port water

We inform you when it comes to the crunch

Due to precise forecasts, we buy time to warn the population of dangers, prepare for closures and withdrawals, as well as evacuations. WADI provides the port authorities and agencies, as well as public authorities, with warnings and forecasts through a special message recipient. Port companies and the population in the port are warned via various channels:

Information about expected water levels

The following services will provide you with information about the expected water levels in the coming hours:

Storm flood service of the Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg

Tel: +49 40 42899-1111

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) - Storm flood warning service

Tel: +49 40 319031-90

Find current storm flood warnings

Aktuelle Sturmflutwarnungen 

Allgemeine In­for­ma­tio­nen

Aktueller Tidestand

Automatic announcement of the current water level at the St. Pauli level

Tel: +49 40 42847-6602

Hamburg Port Authority

Public information

Tel: +49 42847 5551-5552

Tel: +49 40 31595-1 and -2

Flood

Obstacles in the case of a storm surge: Everything concerning the escape routes and traffic management

If an evacuation is decided by flood risk, the affected companies and residents are first informed about the radio, WADI radio or sirens.

Employees in the companies leave the port, normally in their own vehicles. If the evacuation takes place in the busy time, compulsory traffic is carried out, in which the individual areas are closed off.

 

CLOSURE OF ROADS FOR FORECASTS OF SEA LEVEL + 5 M

The flood locking points are activated in good time before the flood peak. 
Especially low-lying roads in the port area:

  • Ellerholzweg (sea level + 4.40 m)
  • Altenwerder Damm (sea level + 4.80 m)
  • Kattwykstraße (sea level + 5 m)

FORECASTS OF SEA LEVEL + 5 M TO + 5.50 M

The closure and evacuation zone I, with the evacuation areas 1 to 4, is closed in part or in whole. Employees in the areas affects have to either leave the harbour or seek out a protective room.

This includes: 

  • Harbour polder (an area protected against flooding thanks to a diking)
  • A harbour area at a height of at least sea level + 7.80 m
  • An escape room in a stable building (higher than sea level + 7.80 m)

Companies within the polder can decide for themselves in the event of a closer if they send their employees home or continue to work.

FORECASTS OF SEA LEVEL + 5.50 M TO SEA LEVEL + 6.50 M

The closure and evacuation zone I, with the evacuation areas 1 to 4, is closed in part or in whole. Employees in the areas affects have to either leave the harbour or seek out a protective room. The evacuation is announced via the radio and WADi radio. All employees and residents must leave the harbour!

The only exception to this evacuation are employees who set up their company’s emergency services or who are responsible for defending the company against flooding. With an official emergency services identification, these employees are permitted in the harbour or can enter the harbour. Emergency services identification can be applied for in the harbour from HPA.

Closed-off areas in the harbour for forecasts of the water level above sea level + 5 m to sea level + 5.50 m

Closed-off areas in the harbour for forecasts of the water level above sea level + 5.50 m to sea level + 6.50 m

Expected water level above sea level + 6.50 m

FORECASTS OF SEA LEVEL + 6.50 M

The entire harbour area is closed off and evacuated. 

The evacuation is announced via the radio and WADi radio. All employees and residents must leave the harbour! 

The only exception to this evacuation are employees who set up their company’s emergency services or who are responsible for defending the company against flooding. With an official emergency services identification, these employees are permitted in the harbour or can enter the harbour. Emergency services identification can be applied for in the harbour from HPA. 

Closed-off areas in the harbour for forecasts of the water level above sea level + 5 m to sea level + 5.50 m

Closed-off areas in the harbour for forecasts of the water level above sea level + 5.50 m to sea level + 6.50 m

Expected water level above sea level + 6.50 m

Escape routes and traffic management

During low-traffic times on weekdays between 6pm and 6am, Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays, the evacuation will use normal roads. Defence forces and protective forces use the same roads to enter the port.

Traffic management to NN + 7,30 m

Traffic management over NN + 7,30 m

In the event of evacuation during high-traffic time periods (weekdays between 6am and 6pm), a traffic management system will be imposed with closures between the individual evacuation areas:

  • Port traffic uses the customs passages and exit roads assigned to the respective evacuation area
  • Emergency services and protective forces can use all routes and access roads to enter the port
  • If the water level is expected to reach 7.30m above sea level, it will not be possible to leave in the direction of Willhelmsburg
  • Emergency services and protective forces for evacuation zone II (evacuation areas 5-9) may not pass through evacuation zone I

Be familiar with escape routes
In the event of a storm surge, you may no longer leave the port in the way of your choosing. Both of the maps below show possible escape routes out of evacuation zones I and II depending on the expected maximum water level.

[Translate to English:] Hafenkartenshop

We support you

Your contact for questions about the storm surge prevention and acute danger situations.

Hamburg Port Authority
Gefahrenabwehr
Neuer Wandrahm 4
20457 Hamburg

Fax: +49 40 42847-2882
Herr Freund, Telefon: +49 40 42847-2288
Herr Rexhausen,Telefon: +49 40 42847-2887


Hamburger Sturmflutwarndienst (WADI)
Telephone announcement of the current storm flood predictions (BSH und WADI)
Telephone: +49 40 42899-1111



Behörde für Inneres und Sport (BIS)
Johanniswall 4
20095 Hamburg

Telephone: +49 40 42828-0
 



Bezirksamt Hamburg-Mitte
Klosterwall 8
20095 Hamburg

Herr Dührkop, Telefon: +49 40 42854-5137
Herr Wäschei, Telefon: +49 40 42854-3318
 



Bezirksamt Altona
Platz der Republik 1
22765 Hamburg

Telefon: +49 40 42811-1772 oder-2072


 
Bezirksamt Bergedorf
Wentorfer Straße 38
21029 Hamburg

Herr Fröhling, Telefon: +49 40 42891-2037
 



Bezirksamt Harburg
Knoopstraße 33
21073 Hamburg

Herr Vincenti, Telefon: +49 40 42871-3646
Herr Peltz, Telefon: +49 40 42871-3645

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