The fire brigade in Lower Austria recorded hundreds of operations in less than 24 hours! On the Danube, the Florianis remain alert. The current forecast is that no more serious catastrophes will occur.
The storms in large parts of the country placed enormous demands on the emergency services from Monday to Tuesday. In less than 24 hours, more than 500 fire departments had to battle in approximately 550 operations with flooded streets, basements and streams turned into raging rivers. The districts of Tulln, Melk, Krems and St. Pölten were the hardest hit. In the latter case, the Florianis were warned 80 times.
The Danube burst its banks
In some places, such as in the Amstetten district or in the Klosterneuburg district of Kritzendorf in the Tulln district, the Danube overflowed its banks. The first phase of flood protection was set up during Tuesday at several places along the river, such as Dürnstein and Weißenkirchen (both in the Krems district).
Heavy rainfall in the St. Pölten district
In the St. Pölten district, heavy rain on Tuesday night led to numerous fallen trees, flooded streets and cellars, and blockages in rivers and streams. Agricultural areas were particularly affected, some of which suffered massive flooding. At times, debris from fields washed onto traffic areas, the district command said.
In the Pottenbrunn district of St. Pölten, the Saubach overflowed its banks and caused considerable damage. It was only in the early hours of Tuesday that the situation began to improve. It is estimated that the clean-up work will last throughout Tuesday. In total, the fire brigades in the St. Pölten district carried out approximately 150 storm operations.
Hundreds of hectares of agricultural land were flooded
In Ardagger (Amstetten district), the Danube overflowed its banks on Tuesday evening and hundreds of hectares of land in Machland Süd were flooded, mayor and municipal chairman Johannes Pressl (ÖVP) reported. The national highway from Ardagger Markt towards Wallsee was closed early Tuesday morning, Pressl reported.
Location stretched along the Danube
The situation along the Danube was still tense on Tuesday afternoon. “Many stairs and streets such as the B 6 in the Ernstbrunn region are flooded or closed,” emphasizes Klaus Stebal, spokesman for the state fire brigade. But there was no disaster alarm. With little rainfall expected in the affected areas, the risk of major disasters is unlikely. The water levels will continue to be closely monitored, Stebal emphasizes.
Highlight at night
In Lower Austria, the peak in the water level of the Danube was expected on Tuesday night, the hydrographic service reported. The situation should then improve due to the lack of water bodies.
1000 euros in emergency aid from the Chamber of Labour
The Lower Austrian Chamber of Labor is supporting the members affected by the storms with their own disaster aid of up to 1,000 euros. Direct support can be applied for for repair and renovation measures in the residential area.
Source: Krone
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