Great relief here.
Much of our land is below sea level. Every high tide would cause flooding and devastating acres and meadows with salt, if there where no embankment.
Shore protection is a tradition (esp. in the Netherlands!) for more than 1000 years. Germany invests more than 100 millionen euro - per year - into dyke, automatic dyke openings and pumping stations etc.
We think it's to late to prepare, if a storm surge will land in 2 days. And afterwards it's to late to wait for US help.
Other nations (like Bangladesh, India) have a different approach. They prefer reaction over preparation.
