Category Archives: Environmental
Summer activities to get you outdoors in Bavaria
by Christa Rolls, USAG Bavaria Environmental Division GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Now that the warm season in Bavaria is here, there are a plethora of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you prefer something more slow-paced, or want to step on the wild side…
How to prepare for, respond to severe weather in Germany
By Kellie Matack, USAG Bavaria Emergency Management GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — In the spring and summer, it is not unusual for Germany to experience an inflow of warm, humid air masses originating from the southwest. When these air masses converge with the colder air from the north, and there…
Germany’s lifeguard associations protect swimmers, promote swim education
HOHENFELS, Germany — Drowning is a global health issue, larger than many accept, and is almost entirely preventable. All official lakes and pools in Germany have their own lifeguards. One of the largest groups is the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft. Founded in 1913, the DLRG has over 1.8 million members…
ANALYSIS: Disasters are going to cost you more
Editor’s note: Tom Janis is the Emergency Manager at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. This is his contribution and analysis. Imagine there was widespread damage from a natural catastrophe while serving overseas and the U.S. Army refused to pay or render aid. Unfathomable? Well, get ready Army. Effective…
Town hall addresses housing problems, successes and improvements
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Maintenance response times, lack of transparency of housing work orders, and effective sponsorship were among common findings of over four thousand recent home and barracks visits here, said the garrison commander at a town hall to address housing issues. Garrison Commander Col. Adam Boyd hosted…
How to prepare for, respond to extreme heat
By Kellie Matack, USAG Bavaria Emergency Management GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — In the summer of 2003, Europe experienced temperatures 20 to 30 percent higher than the seasonal average. Extreme maximum temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in July and continued into August. This extreme weather was…
White-tailed eagle re-sighted near Regensburg
By Christa Rolls, USAG Bavaria Environmental Division GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Grafenwoehr Training Area is one of the few places in Bavaria that supports a healthy population of white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), a species closely related to the North American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Recently, one of the…
No health risk posed by native spindle ermine moth caterpillars
By Elaine Freeth, USAG Bavaria Environmental Division GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Sightings of web covered shrubs with clusters of yellow and black spotted caterpillars around the garrison and residential areas have raised some voices of concern, but community members don’t have to worry about this particular caterpillar. These native…
Community reminded to report, maintain distance from Oak Processionary Moth caterpillars
By Elaine Freeth, USAG Bavaria Environmental Division GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria authorities request community members to report any nest findings of Oak Processional Moth caterpillars and keep their distance from the locations. The Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), or Eichenprozessionsspinner in German, is a…
Everything you need to know about trash & recycling at Netzaberg
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Some questions and confusion about recycling and trash pick-up linger at the Netzaberg housing community. Knowing where the recycling points are and how to properly sort materials is the first step to keeping Netzaberg beautiful. What’s the problem? Netzaberg community members can dispose…