The storm disaster of mid-September still has a firm grip on Lower Austria. The damage is too serious; even the water masses have not completely receded. But there is light on the horizon and today, Thursday evening, the last disaster area rules will be lifted.
Since mid-September, 93,000 emergency services have been fighting the natural disaster, including 60,000 firefighters. “Even if we can now lift disaster zone regulations in all areas of our state, reconstruction will still cost the entire country a lot of strength, resources and endurance,” emphasizes State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.
The head of state, together with her deputy and head of operations Stephan Pernkopf, announced the end of the disaster area regulations in the last districts on Thursday evening, October 10. These are Tulln, the town of St. Pölten and the surrounding area.
“The flood disaster has caused enormous damage and suffering in Lower Austria. “My thanks go to everyone who has done their part and helped to overcome this catastrophe in recent weeks,” said Mikl-Leitner, highlighting the “superhuman effort” of the fire brigades. But she also praises the many volunteers and mayors who are currently on the road with the damage committees and who have given their best as ‘the first crisis managers on site’. This crisis would have shown that Lower Austria is sticking together.
No more damage from rain
“This flood has shown that solidarity is stronger than any natural disaster,” Pernkopf also agreed. Local pumping work is currently taking place in Tullnerfeld and slopes are still being stabilized in Pielachtal. “According to geologists, the rainfall in recent days has had no additional impact on the risk of landslides. “Therefore, the disaster area ordinances that are still in force in the districts of Tulln, St. Pölten-Land and the magistrate’s court of St. Pölten can be lifted from tonight,” the state delegate said.
Almost all rivers have been severely affected
Almost all rivers in Lower Austria experienced flooding for thirty or a hundred years, and many watercourses even had levels well above this level. More than 400 communities experienced severe weather damage from flooding and storms, and more than 100 properties in 52 communities were affected. In total, more than 20,000 properties were affected across the country. More than 75 million euros in aid payments have already been paid out.
Learn for the future. . .
According to Mikl-Leitner, the disbursement of flood aid “suddenly continues at a rapid pace. As of today (Thursday), around 75 million euros have been paid out to affected compatriots and companies.” The country now wants to learn from this flood for future disasters and has set up a working group led by university professor Fritz Zibuschka. Analyze the exceptional event and draw lessons from it .
The sewage emergency in Pottenbrunn has come to an end
The mayor of St. Pölten, Matthias Stadler, also spoke about the devastating damage in the state capital and the close exchange between the city’s emergency services and the crisis team: “They tried tirelessly to help the affected people as quickly as possible and prevented therefore something worse. After three weeks of hard work, the sewage crisis in Pottenbrunn was ended, a large part of the streets and parks were reopened and dangerous areas were secured.”
Stadler is grateful to the helpers. The catastrophe is now officially over, but its aftermath is far from over. Now it’s time to collect and process the damage. “We must continue to join forces and, above all, support the people most affected by the disaster,” Stadler said.
Source: Krone
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