Floods in Lower Austria: Federal Army in constant operation
In recent days, Lower Austria has been hit by one of the worst floods in recent years. Streets were flooded, houses were under water, and numerous people had to be evacuated from the affected areas. In these difficult times, the strength of the Austrian community is evident, not least through the deployment of over 1.100 soldiers from the Federal Army. Supported by 140 pioneers from Salzburg and a further 100 militia soldiers from Styria, who are now moving in, the military is working intensively to repair the damage and prevent further disasters. In a statement, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner emphasized the importance of solidarity and the tireless help of the soldiers and volunteers who are facing the enormous challenges. Areas of operation: Tullnerfeld, Pielachtal and Waldviertel The regions of Tullnerfeld, Pielachtal and Waldviertel are particularly badly affected. The Federal Army's cleanup and rescue work is concentrated here. The soldiers are entrusted with a wide range of tasks, including evacuating people from endangered areas, securing dams and clearing rubble and mud. So far, three lives have been saved, including a dog that got lost in the water. Over 50 people were rescued from hard-to-reach areas using winch rescue, while countless others were brought to safety using boats. Sandbags and dams: logistics at the highest level A key element in the fight against the flood was the use of so-called "big bags" - large sandbags that were used to stabilize the dams. The soldiers have so far transported 670 of these big bags by helicopter, which have a total weight of over
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