Central European flood of 1997

1997 Central European flood

1997 Central European flood

A stone in the Silesian village of Cisek, Poland in memory of the flood.
Duration:	July 1997
Fatalities:	105-115 (55 in Poland, 50-60 in Czech Republic)
Damages:	$4.5 billion
Areas affected:	Czech Republic, Poland, Germany

The 1997 Central European flood or the 1997 Oder Flood of the Oder River and its tributaries in July 1997 affected Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, taking lives of 105-115 people (in Czech Republic and Poland) and causing material damages estimated at $4.5 billion (3.8 billion euros in the Czech Republic and Poland and 330 million euros in Germany). The flooding first begun in the Czech Republic, then spread to Poland and Germany. In Poland, where it was one of the most disastrous floods in the history of that country, it was named the Millennium Flood (Powódź tysiąclecia) although the term was also used in Germany (Jahrtausendflut). The flood has also been referred to as the Great Flood of 1997.

Causes

Waters rose as the results of two extensive rain periods (4-10 July and 17-22 July) in southwestern Poland and northern Czech Republic.

The cause of precipitation was low pressure, which from northern Italy to Moravia and Poland. The unusual development occurred when the field of higher air pressure between the Azores Islands and Scandinavia was blocked. The center of the low pressure remained over southern Poland for a long period.

The precipitation was very high, at the level of 300–600 millimetres (12–24 in), the equivalent - over few days - over several months worth of averages. The waters have risen 2-3m above the previously recorded averages, and were so high that they flooded over standing measurement poles. The heavy rains of that period in that region were among the largest rains in the recorded world's history. The reasons the flood was called the Millennium Flood was because the chances of such a flood were estimated at 0.1% chance a year.

Floods

Already on July 5 flooding begun in the Czech Republic, and on July 6 floods spread to Poland. Those early floods were flash floods, very rapid (water levels have risen by up to 4 meters in half a day). The first Polish flooded towns were around Głuchołazy, which were subsequently on July 7 visited by Polish Prime Minister Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Soon, flooding spread from Chałupki to Racibórz. In Kłodzko several few hundred years old buildings (kamienica) have collapsed; on 8 July the flood reached Krapkowice. In the second stage of the flood, the was flowing down through Oder river, overwhelming successive towns on the river. On July 10 left-bank Opole was flooded. On July 12, Wrocław and Rybnik were flooded. Soon afterwards, Głogów was flooded. By the time the rising waters reached Polish-German border (the Oder-Neisse line), they have slowed, allowing more time for preparations; the damages were thus much lower.

On 18 July, Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski declared a day of national mourning.

Water levels

Water levels recorded on Odra river in the flood period:

Damage

The flood took lives of 105-115 people (55 in Poland, 50-60 in Czech Republic) and causing material damages estimated at $4.5 billion (3.8 billion euros in the Czech Republic and Poland and 330 million euros in Germany).

In Poland, it is estimated that 7,000 people lost all of their possessions. 9,000 private businesseses were affected, 680,000 houses were damaged or destroyed, as well as 843 schools (100 destroyed), 4,000 bridges (45 destroyed), 14,400 km of roads, 2,000km of railways. In total, 665.835 hectares were affected in Poland (an estimated 2% of Polish total territory). The losses were estimated at 63 billions of Polish zloties (or US$ 2.3-3.5 billion at the 1997 levels). The town of Kłodzko sustained damages equivalent to 50 years of its annual budget.

In the Czech Republic, there were 50 fatalities (another source gives 60). 2151 flats and 48 bridges were destroyed. 538 villages and towns were affected. The losses were estimated at 63 billions of Czech korunas. The town of Troubky was most severely affected.

In Germany there were no fatalities.

Responses

Government response in Czech Republic and Poland was criticized. The flood revealed various inadequacies in decision making and infrastructure, although the unprecedented magnitude of the disaster can be seen as a mitigating factor.

Numerous charities provided aid to those affected by the floods.

See also

References

External links

• The Flood of the Millennium in Wrocław, July 1997
• Flood in Poland. Poland needs help! (historical)

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Central_European_flood