Westerwald Communities Remain Without Power After Severe Storm; Damage Assessment Underway

Residents in the northern Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany are still grappling with the aftermath of a severe storm that swept through the Westerwald area. Numerous communities remain without electricity as energy providers work to restore power.

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We have sent all available forces to the Westerwald.

According to a spokesperson for Energieversorgung Mittelrhein, a total of 65 municipalities experienced power outages at some point. While roughly half of these communities had their electricity restored by Thursday morning, the remaining half are still disconnected from the grid. The energy company stated that all available resources have been deployed to the Westerwald to expedite the restoration process.

Emergency services are actively engaged in assessing the widespread damage caused by the storm. The Verbandsgemeinde Höhr-Grenzhausen reported that power supply disruptions persist, with Kammerforst and Grenzau still completely without electricity. Hilgert has seen partial restoration, but power is not yet fully back online.

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Currently, the damage assessment is still ongoing throughout the entire area of the Verbandsgemeinde.

Authorities are urging caution, with playgrounds and cemeteries in Höhr-Grenzhausen and Hilgert closed due to safety concerns. Residents are strongly advised against walking in forests or near trees, as the storm may have weakened or destabilized them. Similar warnings are in place for areas with damaged buildings, where parts of roofs and facades could detach and fall. The storm, which hit Wednesday evening, also caused significant damage to buildings in other areas, and resulted in one fatality in Waldorf.

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We also urgently ask that you refrain from walks in forests and near trees at this time.