Image: VOLKER Weihbold
Two hundred-year flood catastrophes in around eleven years: “It’s good that we didn’t wait 100 years after 2002, but quickly learned our lessons”, says Brigadier Dieter Muhr, military commander of Upper Austria. Therefore, the deployment in 2013 is already “went much better.”
Around 40,000 volunteer firefighters pitched in in Upper Austria ten years ago. “Only together can we overcome such a catastrophe”, says state fire brigade commander Robert Mayer. He praises that “good and close interaction” with authorities and the army.
After the devastating accident in 2002, the state drew up a protection plan, says Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP). And spent a lot of money doing it. For example, the construction of the Machland dam for 183 million euros, which was completed in August 2012 just in time to save Grein from a tidal wave a year later.
“Since then we have implemented another 166 flood protection projects with a total cost of around 172 million euros”says Stelzer. “The volunteers were there then and are there now”, he emphasizes. Everyone worked very coordinated “that makes you proud”says the governor, who thanked the army and fire brigade.
“Statistically speaking, after the flood is always before the next flood”, says Climate Councilor Stefan Kaineder (Greens). The question is not whether, but when the next flood disaster will come. The country has learned its lessons and not only invested in protective structures, but also the procurement of information has been improved. “We have tripled the number of level measurement points from 70 to 240”, says Kaineder. So you can now estimate much better, “when, where and to what extent flooding occurs”.
The brigadier is pleased that the pioneers should again play a role in the planning of the army for the location in Upper Austria. There are also regular meetings with the blue light organizations for civil protection, says Muhr.
Source: Nachrichten
