Damage assessed after „Friederike“ Many forest paths closed after the hurricane
Siebengebirge · Since hurricane „Friederike“, the rangers in the region are appealing to everyone to avoid the forests and forest paths. The clean-up will take until next week.
Since hurricane „Friederike“, the rangers in the region are appealing to everyone to avoid the forests and forest paths. The clean-up will take until next week. In the days after „Friederike“, the traces of the hurricane are still visible in the Siebengebirge and elsewhere. The roads which were in need of being cleared of fallen trees, have been reopened but the forest oaths remain closed. „The first impression is: It’s not that bad“, sums up Marc Redemann the extent of the damage in the Königswinter forest, where „Friederike“ hit „fairly impressively“.
Redemann: „There is not a spruce population where not a single tree fell.“ He estimates that about 1.000 cubic meters of coniferous wood were affected, mainly the spruces. In general, the spruce population is more affected by high wind than the deciduous trees. But Redemann also said: „The storm did not compare to Kyrill.“ One by one, the forest paths will be checked and reopened. Cleaning up takes a few days Also in the forest area in Honnef the hurricane left its mark. „There are still many loose branches and trees standing crooked now“, said the city ranger of Honnef, Josef Klöckner. But according to his first impression, there has been no extensive damage.
He does not yet have an overview of how much forestry fell. His priority: To clear the forest paths, he says, may take a while still. The cleaning up will take a few days. Safety not provided in the forest „All done and cleared“, announced Tim Wessel, spokesperson of the fire brigade in Asbach, after a brief résumé. The fire brigade staff were called out 30 times after trees had fallen and roof tiles came down. „Temporarily the main roads needed to be closed because more trees were likely to fall“, said Wessel.
Around 3.30 pm on Thursday all roads were re-opened. Redemann and Klöckner both warned the public to be careful because personal safety can not be currently guaranteed in the forest. Warnings and closures should be respected. „I can only appeal to people not to go for a walk in the forest at the moment“, said Marc Redemann. Josef Klöckner agrees: „Forest walks are still dangerous. My recommendation: Go for walks outside the forest areas.“ Original text: Alexander Hertel Translation: Mareike Graepel
