Storm Manja: power cut in Freiburg forces university hospital to limit its A&E
On 25 October, Storm Manja blew a metal roof into a substation in Freiburg, Germany. Around 10,000 households lost power for several hours and the university hospital took only life-threatening emergencies. A storm surge hit the North Sea coast that night.
What happened
Early on Sunday 25 October, a wide area around Freiburg in south-west Germany lost power during Storm Manja. Fallen trees damaged overhead lines, then wind drove a metal roof into a substation and caused a short circuit. Around 10,000 households were affected, about 25,000 people according to police. The university hospital was without power for roughly two hours and its emergency department accepted only life-threatening cases. Power was fully back by about 11:00. That night the same storm pushed a surge onto Germany’s North Sea coast, flooding Hamburg’s fish market area.
Why it matters
The outage lasted only hours, yet even a large hospital had to scale back. It is a useful reminder that a short blackout can still matter, especially if someone at home depends on powered medical equipment, and that you cannot assume the nearest emergency room will be working normally at that moment.
What you can do
- Keep a torch, spare batteries and a charged power bank where you can find them in the dark (see Power outage (blackout)).
- If anyone at home relies on a medical device, find out now how long its battery lasts and who to call (see Home medical devices).
- Before a forecast storm, secure loose items outdoors and stay clear of trees and scaffolding in strong gusts (see Thunderstorms, wind and hail).
Helpful guides
- Emergencies Power outage (blackout) What stops working when the grid goes down, what to do in the first hours, how to keep the food in your fridge safe and how to get through several days without power, summer or winter.
- Emergencies Thunderstorms, wind and hail How to prepare for summer storms, what to do when a severe thunderstorm hits at home, on the street, in a car or on a mountain, how to stay safe from lightning and hail, and what to check afterwards.
- Health Equipment Home medical devices Which medical devices are worth having at home, how to choose them and how to read the results correctly. How they help you decide whether to call a doctor, especially in a crisis.