Raised and wrapped with tarpaulin: soldiers and water board practice ‘dyke flooding’

It is not only a spectacular sight, but above all a necessity to be able to cope with flooding situations in the future. If a flood situation arises, the Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK) can call on the Defense Engineer Battalion. Alignment and collaboration must then proceed seamlessly. That is practiced.

Dozens of soldiers and water authorities are rolling up their sleeves this afternoon. Major action must be taken to prevent the (fictitious) threat of dyke flooding. Early in the morning an alarm is sounded and the ’emergency report’ comes in. After which the ‘crisis’ unfolds at lightning speed.

“It is wind force 8, the wind is blowing over the dike from the east and solutions have to be devised on the spot,” explains Marko Cortel, spokesperson on behalf of the water board.

The Oosterdijk will be wrapped in tarpaulin over a length of 150 metres. Soldiers come and go with sandbags to secure the canvas. “It is a kind of raincoat that protects the dike against erosion in the event of heavy precipitation or wave overtopping. Erosion – the removal of soil material by the water – weakens the dike.”

‘Lego blocks’ increment

After hours of packing work, the dike turns out not to be high enough for the increasing storm. The dike is raised to the top using so-called ‘box barriers’. “The box barriers are plastic boxes with which – just like Lego – a wall is built. The boxes are filled with water, making them suddenly weigh about a thousand kilos each.”

But don’t panic, assures Cortel. In practice, there is nothing wrong with the Omringdijk near Andijk. “The location is fictitious: this dike can never be too low. But the place is just a very nice place to practice quietly.”

Prepared for emergency

Because if it ever comes to that, as in Limburg, the water board can call on Defense for support in crisis situations. Cortel: “We notice that the climate is changing and that the consequences are being felt. Consequences of, for example, storms (Dudley, Eunice, Franklin) or heavy rain can affect many people. Then it is good that all emergency services can find each other and know each other’s work and procedures.”

And in the coming days, water emergencies will be simulated. For example, an emergency pumping station will have to be built in Medemblik and a polder is in danger of flooding in Stede Broec. Cortel: “These kinds of exercises are always important – in the past, now and in the future. Keep practicing, keep analyzing whether your protocols still work. Keep checking whether your people can still handle the equipment.”