On behalf of the former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel presented these outstanding awards on Thursday, 12 June, to the leaders of the volunteer fire departments, the professional fire department and the aid organizations in Salzgitter for their outstanding efforts in combating the floods in December 2023/January 2024.
From December 23, 2023 to January 5, 2024, a total of 461 emergency personnel from 27 local fire brigades in Salzgitter, the Salzgitter professional fire department, the DLRG, the DRK, the Johanniter and the THW were on permanent duty at various locations in and outside of Salzgitter in the fight against the floods. The main focus of the operations in Salzgitter was sandbagging in the Salzgitter-Ringelheim area to protect against the masses of water from the rapidly rising Innerste river. Neighborhood assistance was provided in the city of Wolfenbüttel and in the districts of Wolfenbüttel and Hildesheim by transporting sandbags and in the district of Heidekreis by the courageous efforts of the water rescue group and the diving group of the DLRG.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel states: "The Christmas floods of 2023/2024 have once again shown us how quickly the situation can become threatening due to heavy rainfall. However, it also proved that our rescue and disaster control system, which consists of very well-trained full-time and volunteer emergency services, can be activated quickly and works well across cities and districts. We can be justifiably proud of our emergency services, which took the necessary flood protection measures with great competence, speed and reliability."
As a token of thanks and recognition for the extraordinary achievements of all the forces deployed during this time, the Lower Saxony state government is awarding the 2023/2024 Flood Badge of Honor.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel: "In coordination with the leading municipal associations in Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony state government budgeted a total of €3 million for thank-you events throughout the state and donated the 2023/2024 Flood Badge of Honor with fire buckle for 55,000 emergency services. In Salzgitter, I had the great honour and pleasure of presenting this special state award to the local fire chiefs and deputy fire chiefs as well as the managers of our professional fire department and other aid organizations at a dignified ceremony. On my behalf and on behalf of the state government of Lower Saxony, these honoured executives will then perform the ceremony in their respective organizations with their subordinate emergency services."
During the award ceremony in the Ratskeller in Salzgitter-Bad, the Lord Mayor emphasized: "You, the largely volunteer members of our local fire departments and our aid organizations in our city of Salzgitter, together with our professional fire department and our plant fire departments, are a very important part of our outstandingly well-functioning rescue and disaster control system. Our residents trust you and can feel safe around the clock thanks to your outstanding commitment, which you provide voluntarily and without remuneration. The floods at Christmas 2023, which kept us in suspense at the beginning of 2024, showed once again how quickly and competently you are on hand when you are needed. On behalf of the Lower Saxony state government and above all as mayor of our city of Salzgitter, I would like to thank you all very much for your dedication and outstanding commitment in combating the 2023/2024 floods. You are the heroes and heroines of those who were hit hard by the floods. We are proud of you!"
