It is a date that has burned down: in farms, houses and heads of the people. Exactly a year ago, in the night of June 9, the otherwise unobtrusive Seracak in Burgenland met the banks and tore everything with it. There is an appeal to politics for the memories and emotions.
It was the start of a catastrophe that the community of the South Burgenland Unterschützen had not experienced for generations.
“Everything was destroyed. Some houses were more than 1.5 meters under water, basement, stables, everything broken,” Kurt Portschy recalls. The clean -up work started only a few hours after the flood. “The voluntary fire brigade was immediately there, without that it would not have been possible.” The disaster protection of the state of Burgenland and the municipality also increased courageously, later also the Bundesher and countless volunteers from the Red Cross.
It is still being edited
Today, a year later, you can still see the traces of the flood disaster: on facades, in gardens and in the faces of the people. Mayor Christian Zetter, affected himself, takes up the balance: “In general, we are finished cleaning, rooms and restoration. But small things continue to appear. You can still see that work is still being done throughout the community. It is still operational, although a year has passed.”
Financial help and anger in the insurance
The help did not go smoothly from the start. “It was not that simple. Opinion of experts, forms, much bureaucracy. But we should not be ungrateful. Although only 30 percent have been replaced in other federal states, we get 70 percent in Burgenland. It just takes time,” emphasizes Christian Zetter and is satisfied with the support despite the delays.
The coverage of the damage in general worked. From October it was at least financial to the affected ones. “It went from there,” says Kurt Portschy. Heating, electricity – everything had to go out. Installers were fully booked. “There is major criticism of the insurance.
Many affected people had very low protection – a maximum of 10,000 euros, although the actual damage was often over. If you want to secure yourself better now, you reach limits. “Many want to insure them higher, but that is no longer possible. Insurance companies no longer take us.” It is clear for Portschy: “It requires a legal solution. It is not possible that the federal or country must always intervene.”
1916 to 2024: Extractors are often affected
Old Chronicles show: Extractors always ran the risk of floods – 1916, 1955, 1985, 1986 and most recently in 2018. Nevertheless, the criticism of the population is severely weighed. “Meteorologists know exactly when it will be critical. The land was already full on June 3, and we were not warned,” says an entrepreneur who does not want to be called. “I don’t want to nag, it has to continue, but it is incomprehensible why we don’t get any flood protection.” Her profession: “We need surveillance, protection, long -term solutions – at least in the summer months.” And even after that something remains: “The fear, the photos, the worries. It doesn’t disappear with cleaning up.”
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.
