70,000 emergency services

Lower Austria cleans up, the whole of Austria helps

Mountains of garbage have to be disposed of in Lower Austria.

(Bild: Antal Imre)

Unlimited help: they show their heart during the clean-up work after the flood disaster in Lower Austria: firefighters from all federal states, volunteers and those affected work together until the end of their strength. Now fresh forces are being deployed.

70,000 firefighters from Lower Austria and all other provinces have been deployed in the disaster over the past few days. On Friday, many of them will be reinforced or replaced by fresh forces from all districts of Lower Austria. Provincial Fire Brigade Councillor Stephan Pernkopf: "The weekend ahead of us will be a major effort. Thousands more comrades and volunteers from a wide variety of organizations will tackle and clean up!"

The support is enormous. Firefighters from the Czech Republic are also working across the country. Firefighters from Germany are also helping out in Böheimkirchen, which has been hit particularly hard by the masses of water.

"The flood situation is easing, but the concern remains. Relaxation yes, all-clear no! That's why many districts remain disaster areas," explains Pernkopf. Currently, 219 properties with 424 people are still evacuated. Places are also still difficult or impossible to reach.

The Austrian Armed Forces can be relied upon in the event of a disaster: the Black Hawk fleet has been and is deployed in Lower Austria.

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

Places that are difficult or impossible to reach

12 villages or areas are currently inaccessible or difficult to reach:

• Hofstetten (individual farms)
• Loich
• Frankenfels
• Markersdorf-Haindorf
• Haunoldstein
• Wolfsgraben
• Traismauer (individual streets)
• Hainburg (Jägerhaussiedlung)
• Langenrohr (Asparn)
• St.Andrä - Wördern (bathing settlement along the Danube)
• Klosterneuburg (residential areas along the Danube floodplain)
• St. Leonhard (Thal)

So far, 117 people have been evacuated by helicopter, an unparalleled achievement by the air services of the fire department, police and army. The focus is still on the Tullnerfeld region, the city and district of St. Pölten and the Pielach Valley. Pernkopf concluded: "The lower Kamptal was held in place thanks to the enormous efforts of the fire department and the intensive support of the Austrian Armed Forces, for example during the dam protection and restoration work with Black Hawk helicopters in Hadersdorf, thus preventing even more devastating damage!"

Governor Mikl-Leitner: "Rapid assistance!"
Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner is traveling through the disaster areas: "Many of our compatriots are left with nothing. The suffering is enormous. We are providing rapid and uncomplicated help at all levels. Where possible, the damage commissions are already on their way." She also announced that local banks would be granting low-cost renovation loans of up to 50,000 euros.