The flood of the century in Lower Austria and the question of protection

When the water takes everything

It was a shocking moment when the water levels in Lower Austria suddenly rose threateningly and the lives of many people were thrown off course. Days of heavy rain, persistent storms and streams and rivers bursting their banks meant that in some regions the masses of water were so unstoppable that there was talk of a "flood of the century". The people in the affected areas are faced with the ruins of their existence - some of them have literally lost everything.

What we had previously only seen on television and was far away for us, suddenly hit our small cadastral community of Höbersdorf in the municipality of Sierndorf, along with many other villages. Within a very short time, it was "land under water". The drone image shows how fields were suddenly flooded and the masses of water were heading towards the houses

A country under water - the damage is immense

Entire streets were devastated, cellars flooded and houses damaged to the point of being uninhabitable. In the worst cases, entire houses were destroyed by the masses of water. Families who had built a life in these houses are now without a home - their memories, belongings and retreats have been swept away by the water.

The material damage is enormous, but what weighs even heavier is the emotional burden. Many of those affected report despair and fear. "You see the water coming and you just know there's nothing you can do about it," says one resident. "It's as if the water is simply wiping out everything that's important to you. And all you can do is watch."

Helping hands - fire brigade and army in tireless action

In the midst of this catastrophe, the tireless helpers from the fire brigade and the army gave their all for days to protect people and minimise the damage. In many regions, it was their daring rescue missions that saved lives. The comrades from the volunteer fire brigade and the army pumped water out of cellars, built emergency dams and helped to avert the worst damage. They worked around the clock, often exhausted themselves, but always motivated to help the people in this difficult situation.

One firefighter reported on the extreme challenges: "It's not just the water, it's also the mud, the debris and the constant threat of more to come. But we are doing what we can."

However, many private helpers also tirelessly shovelled sand into the sacks, which the fire brigade continually handed out to people crying out for help. What was supposed to offer protection from the water was negated by nature, the masses of water were too strong.

After the water had been pumped out by the fire brigade, we spoke to a couple we knew who had been affected by the natural disaster. We couldn't really help them at the time, but it was good for them just to talk and be hugged.

Together through the crisis - solidarity as a glimmer of hope

However, the strength of the community is also evident during this difficult time. Neighbours help each other, volunteers lend a hand and fundraising campaigns are organised to help those affected.

to offer at least some support. This solidarity gives people hope that they are not alone and that, as difficult as it is, there is a way out of the crisis.

The experiences of the past few weeks have left deep scars, but at the same time, stories of courage, solidarity and rebuilding are emerging. "We have lost our house, but not our hope," says a young mother who lives with her family in emergency accommodation. "We will get up again. But without the help of all the volunteers and emergency services, that would have been impossible."

We were also happy to donate to the flood victims and will also donate accordingly to the fire brigade, who helped those in need around the clock without being paid. As you can see, it can happen quickly to get into a situation like this!

What can we learn from this? Can we protect ourselves against such a devastating environmental disaster in the future?

I would say partly:

If someone builds or buys in a flood zone, builds their house next to a body of water, the garage entrance is below street level or the groundwater level is high, this certainly poses a greater risk of damage from days of heavy rainfall than if someone lives on a hill.

Ultimately, however, I am of the opinion that we cannot compete with the power of nature.