Whenever the German chancellor makes an appearance in a flood-affected area wearing rubber boots, the situation is serious. And when he has Bavaria's head of government and the German interior minister in tow, the situation must be particularly tense.

"The forces of nature are big, they are strong and they can cause great destruction," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as he faced journalists in front of the fire station in Reichertshofen, Bavaria on Monday, flanked by State Premier Markus Söder and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "This goes for floods in particular. This is the fourth time this year that I have gone to a specific area of operation. We will do everything we can, including using the possibilities offered by the federal government, to ensure that help can be provided quickly."

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The floods have badly affected the town of Reichertshofen, situated on the Paar River, a tributary of the Danube. But the normally tranquil tributary........

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