The Netherlands closes all five storm surge barriers as winds reach up to 110kph

[DFighter]

Wednesday’s storm has led to widespread disruption on the roads, on the railways and at airports. Some 252 flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport were cancelled because of the strong winds. All five big Dutch storm surge barriers were closed because of the strong winds and high water. It is the first time that all five barriers have been closed at the same time, the transport ministry said. Crowds, and government officials, turned out to witness the closure of the Maeslant storm barrier for the first time since 2007. The barrier cuts Rotterdam port off from the sea.

 

It's for the first time all 5 barriers will be closed to protect my little country against the water i took the liberty of gathering photo's from all 5











these are all 5 surge barriers made to protect the netherlands from the water

Source of news: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2018/01/the-netherlands-closes-all-five-storm-surge-barriers-as-winds-reach-up-to-110kph/

Source of pictures of the barriers and for those that are interested more information ( also right above available in english )
https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/water/waterbeheer/bescherming-tegen-het-water/waterkeringen/stormvloedkeringen/stormvloedkering-ramspol.aspx

[RedBaird]

110 KpH ~ 68 MpH

 

"A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface windspeed (using the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 kt (39 mph or 63 km/hr) to 63 kt (73 mph or 118 km/hr)."

 

Stronger than 74 mph / 119 kmh = a class-1 Hurricane, so the Netherlands is getting Very Close. 

Edited January 4, 2018 by RedBaird

[DFighter]

these storms are not really special anymore though sometimes it happens they come from north west
if that's the case those storms bring a lot more water then since thats for us open sea that part and then you get this situation
however most of the time these storms are from the south west and then it brings a lot less water
these 5 are just a little part of our entire sea and river protection we have over 38 structures all around the netherlands to keep water out or get it out as fast as possible 
it is defently a big cost but as example all costs were lower then the damage of hurricane katrina years ago so to prevent a lot of damage some country's could learn from us