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FLOODS

How Austria plans to prevent future catastrophic floods

Following catastrophic floods in Lower Austria, the Austrian government has announced the creation a €1 billion disaster fund to rebuild affected areas and prevent future disasters. Here's how you can access help.

Published: 18 September 2024 10:45 CEST
How Austria plans to prevent future catastrophic floods
Firefighters and volunteers build a dam with sandbags in Trasdorf in Tullnerfeld, Lower Austria, Austria on September 17, 2024 as the town expects flooding due to rising groundwater. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Austria will step up its efforts to prevent future disasters in the wake of the catastrophic floods that recently ravaged parts of the country, chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and vice-chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Following the deadly storms that primarily affected Lower Austria, the Austrian government increased the national disaster fund to €1 billion, with an emphasis on both immediate relief and long-term flood protection, the politicians said.

The floods, described as some of the worst in recent memory, led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Four people lost their lives, while many communities in Lower Austria face the slow process of recovery. 

READ ALSO: What’s the cause of Austria’s ‘unprecedented’ rainfall and flooding?

Efforts were concentrated on restoring homes and businesses, repairing infrastructure, and preventing similar disasters in the future.

Emergency measures and relief for affected areas

As part of the relief package, €45 million in emergency aid was made available from the disaster fund on Tuesday to assist those hit hardest by the floods. 

Chancellor Nehammer stressed the importance of swift action, ensuring that affected individuals could access support quickly. “We are very grateful for the heroic efforts of volunteers and emergency services,” said Nehammer.

Residents who have suffered damage to their homes would benefit from the expanded housing support, which totals €40 million. 

In cases where homes are uninhabitable, additional hardship assistance will be provided, the chancellor announced. 

A man wades through a flooded street and carries items on September 17, 2024 in Moosbierbaum in Tullnerfeld, Austria, as the town is expecting a third flood wave after a new dam burst. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Businesses that were damaged or forced to close will receive special interest-free loans and guarantees to aid in their recovery. Moreover, companies facing extended closures can temporarily register their employees for short-time working schemes (known as Kurzarbeit, a popular scheme during the pandemic years with subsidised salaries to avoid dismissals)  to alleviate financial strain.

READ ALSO: Do workers in Austria have the right to stay at home amid floods crisis?

How to access support

Nehammer emphasised that local authorities would be the primary point of contact for residents seeking aid from the disaster fund. “Those affected should reach out to their mayors or municipal offices to access advance payments and receive faster support,” he explained.

In addition to immediate aid, the increased disaster fund will support long-term flood protection measures. 

An initial €10 million has been earmarked for renovating flood defences and dams, and further investments are planned to strengthen Austria’s preparedness against future extreme weather events. 

According to Nehammer, a total of €1 billion will be invested in flood protection projects across the country in the coming years.

Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler highlighted that lessons have been learned from previous disasters, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts between municipalities, provinces, and the federal government. 

Kogler also called for greater attention to soil and nature conservation, which he said can help mitigate the impact of extreme weather events caused by climate change. “When there is water, there is too much. That is the nature of the climate crisis,” he said, calling for municipalities to reduce the size of areas that are concreted over.

READ NEXT: Will my Austrian home insurance cover storm damage?

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FLOODS

From transport to bars: When will ‘normal life’ resume in Vienna?

Vienna was still recovering on Tuesday after the weekend's catastrophic floods with public transport looking to resume normal service and businesses along the Danube Canal cleaning up and hoping to reopen.

Published: 17 September 2024 15:08 CEST
From transport to bars: When will 'normal life' resume in Vienna?

Vienna’s flood situation improved overnight as water levels in key areas receded, allowing clean-up efforts to begin after the severe floods and rains that hit part of Austria since late last week, Austrian media has reported. 

The Vienna River, which reached a peak of 3.90 metres at the Kennedybrücke measuring point, dropped to 90 centimetres early on Tuesday. Retention basins in the Auhof area, which were nearly full over the weekend, were almost empty by Tuesday, although the Wienerwaldsee reservoir was still draining. In the meantime, the Danube was still at a stable level of 6.5 metres and did not pose a threat to the city.

READ ALSO: Austria’s floodwaters subside but recovery set to take months

Sunny weather in the early hours of Tuesday brought some relief, but authorities cautioned that the consequences of the floods were still being felt across Vienna. 

Parks throughout the city had been temporarily closed due to the risk of falling trees and other flood-related hazards. Large green areas, including Lainzer Tiergarten and Steinhofgründe, were also off-limits as checks were conducted to assess damage. It remains unclear how long these closures will last.

A video on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows the strength of the Vienna River during the floods. The bridge holds part of the U4 metro line.

Metro services resume partial service

Vienna’s public transport services were also still not back to normal service on Tuesday. 

Several underground lines, including the U2, U3, U4, and U6, were partially suspended due to flooding and water damage. 

Wiener Linien, the city’s transport operator, reported that crews began removing temporary flood barriers and sandbags early on Tuesday morning. The U6 overhead line was also undergoing repairs, with full service expected to resume by Wednesday.

While trams on lines 40 and 41 returned to operation, other metro lines were still undergoing safety checks. 

The U4 was running only between Heiligenstadt and Friedensbrücke, while the U3 had resumed partial service between Ottakring and Schlachthausgasse. Service on the U2 line remained limited between Seestadt and Taborstraße. 

Alexandra Reinagl, Managing Director of Wiener Linien, confirmed that the goal was to restore full metro operations by Wednesday.

READ ALSO: COMPARE: How much do Austria’s political parties care about the climate crisis?

Businesses and social life hit

Along the Danube Canal, several businesses and bars experienced significant flooding. 

Strandbar Herrmann, a popular riverside venue, was hit hard by the floodwaters, leaving behind mud and debris. Owner Rudolf Konar told Der Standard that his bar was flooded by nearly a metre of water, with employees later working to clear the site and salvage equipment. 

Many of his staff come from the flood-affected regions of Lower Austria, making the clean-up process more difficult, he said

Despite the challenges, the Strandbar hoped to reopen by Wednesday. Other businesses along the Danube Canal and New Danube also started recovery efforts, though many remained closed as they assessed the damage. 

The Vienna Chamber of Commerce confirmed that “practically all” businesses in the area were flooded.

Emergency services on high alert

The city’s fire brigade reported a reduction in flood-related incidents, with the number of emergency calls dropping by a third since Monday morning. 

Despite this, there were still around 400 incidents of water entering basements, garages, and flooding roads. Fallen trees, many of which were discovered after the rain stopped, remained a significant concern.

Vienna’s fire brigade, which had been assisting in nearby Lower Austria, also noted that while the worst of the storm is over, the recovery process would take time. Emergency services continued to work at full capacity, clearing debris and pumping water from affected areas across the city.

READ ALSO: Will my Austrian home insurance cover storm damage?

Road closures and recovery in Lower Austria

Meanwhile, in Lower Austria, where the situation was still critical, disaster alerts continued to be in place. 

On Tuesday, more than 250 roads were still closed due to flooding and landslides, affecting key routes such as the Vienna outer ring motorway and the Westautobahn. Several districts, including St. Pölten, Bruck an der Leitha, and Tulln, have been particularly hard-hit. 

Evacuations were ongoing in several areas.

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