LINZ. During the flood disaster of 2002, numerous houses in Grein were under water up to the first floor. No comparison to the situation during the 2013 flood: While residents were able to stay in their homes, the Marchland Dam, completed a year earlier, withstood the floods and probably prevented millions of dollars in damage.
The dam is the largest in a long series of flood protection projects implemented in Upper Austria after the 2002 flood of the century. Since then, around 700 million euros have been invested – half by the federal government, 260 million by the state and 120 million euros by the municipalities. According to information from the state, 1080 protective measures have been implemented with these funds so far. “It is tremendous what has been set in motion to protect the population from the dangers of flooding,” says the responsible provincial councilor Stefan Kaineder (Greens).
New forecasting systems
In addition to structural measures – dams were also built or renovated in the St. Georgener Bucht and in Schwertberg – the safety net also includes new forecasting systems. For example, there is now an early warning system for small and medium-sized bodies of water. Information can be collected on the large rivers such as the Danube and Inn, which provides information 48 hours in advance about the further development of a flood.
The damage in 2002 was enormous: the country estimates it at one billion euros. The largest damage sector was the private sector with 350 million euros, followed by 320 million in companies. Insurance companies are assuming damage of up to three billion euros.
The protective measures were already effective during the 2013 flood: At that time, the damage amounted to “only” 220 million euros – only around a fifth of 2002. And that, although according to experts, the water volumes of 2013 exceeded those of 2002. Even after the second major flood disaster, new protective measures were taken, such as the resettlement of numerous people whose houses in the Eferding basin were severely damaged by the flood and who were in vulnerable areas.
A project is still being planned that will exceed the Marchland dam at least in terms of investment volume: Flood protection in the Eferdinger basin is to be created according to a similar principle, which should secure 1080 objects after its completion. The project is to be completed by 2030 and will cost a total of around 250 million euros.
For further financing, a 15a agreement was reached in June between the federal government and Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna. Funds of around 100 million euros are earmarked for Upper Austria. 77.8 million flow into flood protection in the central area, another 15.4 million into the Upper Danube Valley. “The funding is intended to close the last gaps in flood protection on the Upper Austrian Danube and to secure the living space in the best possible way,” says Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP).
Source: Nachrichten
