2,240 Lower Austrians had to be evacuated from their homes and apartments by the emergency services. Tullnerfeld was particularly affected on Monday evening. 450 people were accommodated in emergency accommodation set up by the Red Cross at the Tulln trade fair. The “Krone” was there for breakfast on Tuesday.
For a large hall with so many people, Messe Tulln is surprisingly quiet. The victims who had to be brought here on Monday evening after a dam burst on the Perschling near Atzenbrugg have been arrested. On Tuesday morning, there were still 230 people on site seeking protection. Many people are happy to have a warm bed and a roof over their heads. Everyone is grateful to the Red Cross workers who are looking after the site.
Multi-day use
“We have been in action here since Friday,” reports district commander Martin Koreska. Initially, the emergency sleeping center was designed for 70 people, but on Monday the alarm message came from Rust, Langenrohr and Co.: Seven places have to be evacuated! Within a few hours, the capacity in the exhibition hall was increased to 1,000 people, and eventually 450 affected people found refuge here. “We always have 40 to 50 employees from the entire district and beyond working here,” said Koreska, when the “Krone” was on site after breakfast for the changing of the guard.
But in addition to the camp beds that sheltered people and the mobile kitchen that ensures their physical well-being, the crisis intervention teams are on site. “You can’t forget the psychological stress of such an exceptional situation,” says Koreska.
In good-humored families there are always people with connections who find it hard to hold back their tears. Some are irritated, others have not yet understood the meaning of the events. But they all know that someone cares about them. And that is probably the most important thing in this situation.
The victims are grateful for the help
Manuel M. from Langenschönbichl is full of praise for the organization on site. The 38-year-old fled with his wife and their two children (two and five years old) from the impending danger. “We heard that our city was fortunately spared from the flooding,” he says in an interview with the “Krone”.
But he didn’t come here for nothing, he emphasizes: “Better safe than sorry. And besides, it doesn’t say that all dams will hold now,” says Manuel M. During the conversation, he receives a text message from the local mayor: “Anyone who is in Tulln should stay there. We don’t know whether the roads will still be passable later.”
“We have everything we need here”
Svitlana H. also cannot return to her birthplace. She too was evacuated on Monday evening: “First the fire brigade drove through the city and made announcements, later the police knocked on every front door,” she says. This allowed her to drive to the exhibition centre in Tulln with her seven-year-old daughter in her own car.
“Many friends and acquaintances wrote to me asking if I was okay,” she says. Some even offered her a couch, but the 31-year-old politely declined: “There are beds, food and drink, sanitary facilities, the room is nice and warm. We have everything we need here.”
She wants to stay in the emergency shelter until it is safe to go home again. And hopefully that will happen soon – no matter how well the Red Cross is taking care of those affected.
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.
