Once in a Century

Five years ago, on July 14 and 15, 2021, the Sûre river rose sharply and swept through the streets of Echternach. Shops, homes, cellars. The abbey town was caught off guard. It was a once-in-a-century flood.[1]

Thomas Huybrecht, who runs an optician's shop in Echternach, woke up at 2 or 3am to news that the weather forecast was going to be very, very extreme. At 4am he headed into town. One of the alleys was already under water. The fire service was laying sandbags. The water stopped, then rose again. His shop, which he had moved into a month earlier and refurbished from scratch, ended up under half a metre of water. The damage came in at over €70,000.[1]

Steve Wagner, who manages an electrical shop on Hallergaass street, remembers the solidarity. People came out with brooms. They hauled things upstairs. They pitched in. Contributions were collected, financial and in kind. "No matter how 'done' people were, they still continued to help", he said.[1]

€13 million and a flood wall

State financial aid to the municipality of Echternach now totals more than €13 million. The money has gone towards a temporary school and sports hall, and towards flood protection measures. A flood wall has been built. Other defence infrastructure has been put in place. Deputy Mayor Carole Hartmann said the work would carry on, since "no one can ever be well prepared enough to face the next flood". A flood study has been commissioned. Residents can sit down with experts and work out how to protect their homes.[1]

The opposite extreme

Five years later, to the day, the Sûre river is at a record low. The Water Management Administration has banned river extraction. The Upper Sûre lake, where 120 boats were caught for speeding and vandalism two weeks ago, is a basin of concern rather than overflow. The Moselle has blue-green algae and a diesel slick. The Grouft Tunnel had to be cleaned three times because of dust, not water.[1]

The same country. The same river system. The same month. Opposite extremes, five years apart. In 2021, too much water. In 2026, not enough. In 2021, sandbags. In 2026, fans and 15 air-conditioning units where 60 are needed. In 2021, a once-in-a-century flood. In 2026, a once-in-a-century heatwave. The phrase "once in a century" is starting to sound like it is counting down rather than counting up.[1]

Echternach is better prepared for the next flood. The flood wall is built. The studies are commissioned. The residents have expert advice. But the next extreme, as the last seven days have shown, may not be a flood. It may be the opposite. And you cannot build a wall against a drought.[1]