2013
Vas County flood
Short Description
Detailed Description
In February, heavy rainfall occurred in the catchment areas of our watercourses, causing the still frozen ground to be unable to absorb the water, leading to water damage. The Rába river flooded in Szentgotthárd and Körmend, the Sorok stream in Ják, and the Gyöngyös stream in the Kőszeg area. On the first day, flood protection efforts were concentrated at three main junctions: in the Ják-Nárai region, Kőszeghegyalja, and the Őrség.
In addition to the professional disaster management forces, 13 volunteer firefighter associations with 85 members participated in the defense (from Ják, Kőszegdoroszló, Magyarlak, Horvátzsidány, Szakonyfalu, Rábagyarmat, Kőszegszerdahely, Őriszentpéter, Egyházasrádóc, Csönge, Kenyeri, Sorkifalud, Peresznye).
In 16 settlements, local flood protection measures were needed in built-up areas, during which a total of 20,000 sandbags were used, and high-performance pumps were deployed in 14 settlements for the defense.
As a result of the flooding, water flowed over several side roads, causing road narrowing and half-road closures.
From the second day, the massive flood spread rapidly in the Rába Valley with minimal flattening. Serious valley flooding was expected, with water levels between the II-III flood protection readiness levels (400-450 cm).
In Vas County, a full road closure was in effect on the following sections: Molnaszecsőd-Katafa, Csákánydoroszló-Halogy, Ispák-Ivánc, Ivánc-Csákánydoroszló, Csörötnek-Rönök, Csörönek-Vasszentmihály, Sorkifalud-Gyanógeregye, Pinkmindszent-border crossing, Felsőmarác-Csákánydoroszló, Vasegerszeg-Nagygeresd, Acsád-Bük, Sótony-Ikervár.
Over the three days, disaster management efforts were carried out in a total of 30 settlements. Tasks such as water pumping, culvert cleaning, and sandbagging were carried out by firefighters. In the flood defense efforts, a total of 18 volunteer firefighter associations with 148 members, three municipal fire departments with 27 members, and the three disaster management offices and the county directorate with 55 members participated. Additionally, the Őrség Rescue Team, consisting of 30 people and 10 technical devices, was deployed. A total of 26,000 sandbags were needed for the construction of protective barriers.
Due to the flood, two families had to temporarily leave their homes in Szakonyfalu, one family (1 adult and 4 children) in Körmend, and another family (1 adult and 4 children) in Ikervár. The families stayed with relatives until the floodwaters receded.
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