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.
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.
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.
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:
About eight hours before the expected high water
Starting about nine hours before the expected high water at shorter intervals
With special message recipient
For individual locations
For the city and port of Hamburg via FLUTWARN HAFEN
Via vans with loudspeakers – especially if there is a danger of dyke bursts
As a signal to observe the radio warnings
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
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
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.
The flood locking points are activated in good time before the flood peak.
Especially low-lying roads in the port area:
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:
Companies within the polder can decide for themselves in the event of a closer if they send their employees home or continue to work.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
![[Translate to English:] Hafenkartenshop](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/a/csm_CTN_ZwangswVerkehrsfuehrung_a9e50f616f.jpg "[Translate to English:] Zwangs Verkehrsfuehrung HPA Hochwasser")
