Flooding: Pumping out basements – what should you consider?

Flooding used to be considered a relatively rare weather event in Germany. However, with climate change, it will become more frequent and even more intense in the future. Large parts of Germany are repeatedly experiencing persistent rain. This naturally also increases concerns about flooded basements. How do you get rid of the water if it does happen? An overview

This depends on several factors. It's important to first find out where the water is coming from, explains Frank Hachemer, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV). Because: "It could be something internal, such as a broken pipe. But it could also be coming from outside, such as heavy rain or a body of water quickly overflowing its banks," says Hachemer. In the latter case, you should definitely not go into your basement, as the situation could quickly become very dangerous.

"But if there's only a few centimeters of water in the basement and there's no danger, you can usually pump it out yourself," explains Beate Dalkowski-Orth of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in the Bremen and Lower Saxony regional branch. "It's tedious and annoying, but necessary," Hachemer adds. During severe storms, the fire service is called upon to deal with serious emergencies and can then either not deal with relatively minor cases or only deal with them much later.

There are a few steps you should take before draining the water from your basement. First, check whether the electricity is still on in the basement. "Water conducts electricity, and going into the basement can be life-threatening," explains Hachemer.

Next, you should assess the situation. It's useful to have flashlights or similar items handy for this. The next question is whether you can handle the problem yourself or whether you need to call the fire department. It's also important to know what stage of the flooding you're at. "If the danger isn't over yet, you shouldn't start draining water from the basement," warns Hachemer. If you're unsure, it's best to consult an expert.

Only then should you begin draining the water from the basement, if possible. According to Hachemer, it's important to keep in mind that appliances like pumps also require electricity. It's helpful to have a long power cable handy, as the electricity in the basement should remain off until qualified personnel have made it safe.

What you ultimately use to dry your basement also depends on the amount of water. If there's only a hand's breadth of water in the basement, a wet vacuum can help. "A dirty water pump can usually only be used once the water level has already reached a higher level," says the expert.

Buckets and rags are often sufficient for the remaining water, explains Dalkowski-Orth of the THW. Hachemer also calls for self-preparedness: "Anyone who wants to do more to help themselves should always find out how the equipment works, at the latest when purchasing it, and not just in the emergency, so that they can react in an emergency."

If there's only a small amount of water in the basement, you should try to pump it out yourself. "The fire department can't help with a small amount of water because their pumps aren't designed to handle such small amounts of water," says Hachemer. However, a few things should be kept in mind. "In general, the water and electricity in the basement can be dangerous," explains the expert. Objects that are thrown around by the water and that aren't immediately visible can also become a problem.

However, under certain circumstances, things can get even worse. This depends, among other things, on the amount of water, the type of water ingress, and the building in which you are located. "Even the structural integrity of older houses, for example, can be compromised by large amounts of water – so that the building could even be in danger of collapsing," says Hachemer. In such cases, the fire department would request additional support and specialists.

"If there's a lot of water in the basement, water is leaking in, and there's a particular risk that the water is coming into contact with the electrical system, it's better to call the fire department and explain the situation," advises Dalkowski-Orth. This is especially true if the water penetrating is dirty. The general rule is: "When in doubt, it's better to call the fire department once too often than once too few," says Hachemer.

During floods, accidents often occur because people still go to their basements, even though it's too dangerous. Hachemer therefore recommends not storing valuables in the basement – ​​and this doesn't just apply to houses at risk of flooding. Generally, in all cases of doubt, one should not go into the basement – ​​even to salvage anything. "Human lives always come first," says the vice president of the German Fire Service Association.

We last updated this article on July 3, 2025.