Despite all efforts of the fire brigade, the residential home for people with disabilities in Hartkirchen (Upper Austria) was flooded and the residents had to be evacuated, as reported. Now there is a great relief: at least one residential group was able to return to the familiar environment.
The amount of water was simply too great: “We were powerless,” says commander Gerald Schöringhumer. His Hartkirchen fire brigade had tried everything the day before Christmas. The Florianis were on duty for more than eight hours because the water in front of the local nursing home was 30 to 40 centimeters high.
350 sandbags couldn’t help
The 350 sandbags that Schöringhumer and his team had spread around the building no longer helped. “Unfortunately, the water finds a way in everywhere,” said the fire chief.
Evacuation before Christmas
Therefore, the residents of the house, adults with cognitive and multiple disabilities, had to be evacuated. Not an easy situation. “But the employees have known the residents for a long time and have therefore responded well to them,” said Petra Fosen-Schlichtinger, spokeswoman for the Hartheim Institute, which runs the facility.
On Wednesday, the fire brigade went to the nursing home again – but this time for a good reason: “We cleaned up and made sure there were no barriers when the residents returned,” says Commander Schöringhumer.
Residential group moved in again
A residential group has also been able to return to its familiar environment. However, parts of the house remain unusable. “Two residential groups of 14 people are still housed in alcoves in the main building,” says Fosen-Schlichtinger. On the day of the accident, 27 people were evacuated there.
The costs for employees and residents were and are very high. A concern of spokeswoman Fosen-Schlichtinger: “We would like to thank all the helpers who were there for us just before Christmas.”
Source: Krone
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