Commissions on the road

Prolonged processing of flood damage until Christmas

The consequences of the flood are being assessed by the commission. By the time it arrives, however, the damage can already be repaired. "All that is needed is documentation, such as photos, videos and notes," it says.

(Bild: Antal Imre/Foto: Imre Antal)

In St. Pölten, which was particularly affected by the floods, damage commissions have been visiting the victims since Friday - presumably until Christmas. So far, 1000 claims have already been registered. 

It usually takes less than an hour for the damage commission of the city of St. Pölten to visit those affected. It is not only the financial damage caused by the flood of the century that is too great, but also the suffering of the people that the team of city politicians, experts and municipal employees want to be informed about. So far, almost 1000 claims have been registered, and the number is growing daily. It will therefore probably take until Christmas to document the true extent of the damage.

The damage commissions have been on the road in St. Pölten since Friday.

(Bild: Josef Vorlaufer)

(Bild: Antal Imre/Imre Antal)

The first commissions have been out and about in the provincial capital since Friday. The final damage will be recorded and photographed in order to enable a payout from the disaster fund. "This is happening alongside the ongoing municipal services and is being carried out by people who have been personally affected in some cases," says the town hall.

Rapid support required
Mayor Matthias Stadler is calling for the people of St. Pölten to be helped quickly by the federal government. He is campaigning for an "unbureaucratic, staggered aid package" of up to 10,000 euros per household. However, this demand for rapid support is at odds with the current work of the commission, some of those affected criticize. Because after the start on Friday came the weekend - and nobody was on the road.

Work also at the weekend
However, the city emphasizes that damage is also recorded at the weekend. The commission then visits those affected during the week. Furthermore, the town hall says that they are anything but idle on Saturdays and Sundays. For example, the landfill site was also opened at the weekend, the maintenance depot was on duty at all times and work was also carried out at the weekend to repair the sewer system that was damaged by the flood in Pottenbrunn.