The “Krone” spoke with deputy fire chief Wolfgang Germ. Because of the flood, he commanded many operations for Klagenfurt with the professional fire brigade for four days.
“crown”:How many hours have you slept in the past four days as Deputy Fire Chief?
Wolfgang Germ: Maximum 15, only three on the first two days. However, the first days you are full of adrenaline. All colleagues feel the same. My phone is ringing hundreds of times, you need to keep calm. Ten important decisions have to be made every minute.
You have been working for the professional fire brigade since 1997. The civil warning for Viktring was the first in Klagenfurt in 30 years.
That’s right. The situation at the Treimischer Teich was quite dramatic. If we had not been able to secure the big bags with the excavators, the entire pond would have been flooded and we would have had to evacuate all of Viktring with about 10,000 inhabitants.
What is the current situation in Klagenfurt?
If there is no more rain, it will take ten days for the groundwater to sink. The cooperation with the fire service has been great, we conduct three exercises every year for such extreme situations. The last crisis team will meet on Sunday.
Such storms will become more frequent in the future.
That’s true, unfortunately. You must redo the retention basin at Treimischer Teich as soon as possible. Otherwise, bad things threaten.
You had to cut short your vacation because of the flood.
I wanted to stay in Carinthia for a week, but my vacation ended on August 4. At 8 o’clock in the morning we went on a reconnaissance flight. I live in Wölfnitz and have water in my cellar myself.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
