The flood has reawakened cohesion in Austria. Because 50,000 volunteers are rushing to help the desperate victims in our ‘For each other’ campaign with Caritas.
Within minutes, the eponymous community of Gablitzbach in the Vienna Woods had been transformed into a raging water beast. Dirty brown masses shot into the home of 57-year-old Christina Schmirl. In that cozy home she had moved into just four months ago and had been lovingly furnished. “I felt so alone in the darkness – a bad feeling. But then the fire brigade arrived quickly,” admits the therapeutic masseuse during the on-site inspection of the “Krone” with Caritas director Klaus Schwertner.
A small army of helpers has arrived to repair the worst damage. What gives Schmirl strength is neighborhood help: “We are all there for each other in the true sense of the word!”
Caritas: “People come closer”
Caritas nurse Manuela Utikal, who in Guntramsdorf (Lower Austria) did not think twice about abandoning Fernanda Rotter entrusted to her, is considered the silent hero of everyday life. The caregiver had to wade through the rapidly rising flood to get to her 92-year-old charge. What is touching: Utikal assures us that this was a given for her. Just one example of the hundreds of streams of people flowing through Austria. Something similar is currently happening in thousands of places in the flood zones!
“People are getting closer. Everyone is there for each other. This is charity in action and the will to dry this sea of tears together,” says Schwertner, who is constantly on the road to save what is often beyond saving. “The trauma of this catastrophe will haunt those affected for a long time,” says the idealist. He also counts memories, very personal things such as photos, among the losses. For some, this can be more serious than the material loss.
Nevertheless, the water has plunged many into existential distress. This is exactly where we want to help, quickly and unbureaucratically. With your donation, however small.
First aid has now been paid to the victims. Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed that almost a million euros had already been received – and that was certainly just the beginning.
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.
