According to reports, heavy afternoon rain in the Waidhofen an der Thaya district of Lower Austria resulted in flooded cellars and muddy streets. Eleven fire brigades with 128 members were present. The heavy rain also took its toll on Florianis in the Zwettl district and in Krems.
Around 5:30 p.m., water flowed from the fields and meadows into the towns and flooded some cellars – the first emergency calls from Ulrichschlag (municipality of Waidhofen an der Thaya) and Lichtenberg (municipality of Windigsteig) reached the fire brigade.
The Kellergasse in Dietmanns was also flooded by approximately 30 cm and the mud carried along blocked the sewerage system, the fire brigade reported. However, 59 members of the Dietmanns, Matzles, Waldreichs, Wienings and Waidhofen/Thaya fire brigades managed to clear the sewer shafts in time before the water and mud masses entered the cellars and garages of the residential buildings.
The water flowed from Dietmanns via the Sieghartser Bach to Groß Siegharts. The water entered the underground parking garage at Hautplatz and threatened to damage the parked vehicles. Several streets in the area were flooded, including the training ground of the dog sports club. Water also leaked into an apartment complex and a clothing store and had to be pumped out.
More than 100 Florianis in action
The Florianis of the district capital also fought against the water masses. At one store, water flowed into the building through the roof, causing a fire alarm in the sales area. In the urban area of Waidhofen an der Thaya, the water masses pushed open some manhole covers, which had to be reattached by the emergency services.
A total of eleven fire brigades with 128 members were deployed in the communities of Waidhofen an der Thaya, Windigsteig, Dietmanns and Groß Siegharts.
Mass water in the Zwettl district
The Floriani’s in Allentsteig in the Zwettl district were also popular. Two retaining walls collapsed due to the enormous amounts of water. “A real river formed right into the center of the city,” describes the FF Allentsteig. Several properties had to be secured with sandbags.
Around 5:50 p.m. the alarm also sounded in Göpfritz an der Wild in the Zwettl district. The heavy rains caused the sewage system to become overloaded and some houses were flooded. Within minutes of the alarm being raised, the Florianis went to the specified operational addresses. By 11:00 p.m. all pumping, cleaning and securing work was completed.
Precautions were also taken in the urban area of Krems an der Donau due to the heavy rain, but fortunately there were no floods. Downstream, all access to the Krems River was officially closed and bridges were regularly checked for accumulated driftwood and construction site materials. The situation calmed down around 10 p.m.
Storm in Styria
The storm did not only keep the emergency services on their toes in Lower Austria. More than 1,000 troops had to be deployed in Styria on Tuesday for a total of 261 missions. The larger area of Pischelsdorf and Anger and Mürzzuschlag were the hardest hit.
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.
