Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Homeowners Face Mounting Weather Damage Costs,Insurance Gaps
SCHWERIN – Increasingly frequent extreme weather events are driving up damage claims in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV),with homeowners often lacking adequate insurance coverage,according to data released by the German Insurance Association (GDV). Between 2001 and 2021, insured residential buildings in the state sustained approximately 210 million euros in damage from extreme rainfall alone, averaging 5,740 euros per claim.
Experts warn that the risk of heavy rainfall is escalating due to climate change, meaning previously unaffected areas are now vulnerable. “Areas that have experienced little damage from heavy rain in the last 20 years have simply been lucky so far,” explained Katharina Lengfeld of the German Weather Service in a previous GDV analysis. Neglecting insurance against these events leaves homeowners responsible for perhaps devastating repair costs.
In 2023, storms, hail, heavy rain, and flooding caused 31 million euros in damage across the northeast, following a significantly higher 102 million euros in 2022. Rostock is notably susceptible, with one in seven insured residential buildings (145.5 out of 1,000) affected by heavy rain damage. In contrast, the Ludwigslust-Parchim region saw claims on 51 out of 1,000 insured buildings, with an average damage cost of 4,710 euros.
The GDV data reveals that statistically, 93 out of every 1,000 residential buildings in MV are at risk of damage from extreme rainfall. The insurance association emphasizes the importance of adequate coverage to protect against the financial consequences of increasingly common and severe weather events.