Christmas Flood of 1717

As Christmas tide the storm surge from December 24 is referred to December 25 1717. It was created on the continental North Sea coast of a sudden onset of Northwest storm. Between the Netherlands and Denmark, there were numerous dike breaches and devastating floods. Tønder in the northern Duchy of Schleswig to the East Frisian Emden drowned about 9,000 people; in the Netherlands died 2,500 people. A new storm surge took place in the night of 25 to 26 February 1718.

Course

The flood was caused to the continental North Sea coast of a sudden onset of Northwest storm five hours before high tide. The levees broke and the water spilled out into the low-lying coastal areas. The tsunami had serious consequences for the North Sea coastal marshes. Population loss, economic decline and poverty dominated the North Sea communities after this disaster. No coastal region between the Netherlands and Denmark remained of this storm surge spared; everywhere there were numerous dike breaches and devastating floods.

Among the hardest hit by the storm surge areas included the County of Oldenburg, which belonging to the Principality of Anhalt- Zerbst rule Jever ( 1,700 deaths), the country Kehdingen and the Principality of East Frisia. In Oldenburg Butjadingen a population loss of nearly 30% was found.

Losses

All coastal states suffered by the Christmas flood of 1717 great loss of horses, cattle, pigs and sheep. In Ostfriesland 2,300 horses, 9,500 cattle, 2,800 sheep and 1,800 pigs died. In addition, thousands of homes were swept away by the waves or seriously damaged. In East Friesland alone 900 houses were washed away and 1,800 damaged. The damage to the dikes and sluices were very heavy.

Survivors were given at this time hardly knowing the whereabouts of their family members expelled by the floods. Of the 284 persons drowned out Werdum in Ostfriesland were, for example, to February 5, 1718, only 32 have been found. From the Office Ritzebüttel is narrated that ordinary burials were often not possible.

The drama of this storm surge in cold winter time (a few days after the storm surge there was heavy frost and snowfall ) has been reinforced by a new storm surge in the night from 25 to 26 February 1718 met a still largely open -lying country.

Longer-term consequences

The direct result of the disaster was a famine that despite government and private assistance extended over several years, as both stocks and seed had been destroyed and also the salinized soil brought years of reduced income and was using them as pasture hardly. Diseases such as the marsh fever spread. Since the decimated and impoverished population was not able to repair the damaged levees quickly, the agricultural land was flooded partially over the years again and again and the salt water was not even, so that even the rescued animals are not fed could. Nevertheless, the population was used to increased charges for the restoration of the levees. Many farmers into debt. The loans, which were then added, were paid back to the 19th century. Many people left the marshes despite ban on emigration. As the price of land significantly decreased, were the peasants who had survived the flood unscathed, concentrate larger land holdings in her hand.