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Kaunas is intensively preparing for the anticipated flood. The inhabitants of Neris fear that the 2010 natural disaster will repeat itself, with several houses flooded.
Specialized forecasts
Specialists from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service are monitoring the situation on the Neris River and forecast that the flooding could start next week.
“This winter, the rivers were covered with ice and it snowed a lot, but the amounts were not very large. According to data from February 20, the largest reserves of water in snow are in the southern and southeastern districts, elsewhere they are close to normal, and Janina Brastovickytė-Stankevič, Senior Specialist of the Alert Division.
He noted that so far the snow is slowly melting, the speed of its melting could be increased by the rain, but its amounts are still forecast to be small.
“The ice will soon move in the rivers, which can cause confluence. Unfortunately, they are difficult to predict. This can lead to further flooding, because the ice confluence does not allow the water to drain into the river, then the water level. begins to rise rapidly. Jonava is the remaining coastal ice, Nemunas freezes up to Kaunas, there is no ice sheet near Kaunas, then the ice sheet appears in Kulautuva or even a little earlier. “Where the coasts are flatter, the rivers can spill. Kaunas is protected from the frequent previous floods at the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris by a hydroelectric power station, ”said the specialist.
However, according to J.Brastovickytė-Stankevič, there is a possibility of a recurrence of a flood similar to that of 2010 in the Kaunas district. Ice clumping, as well as a sudden rise in water, can be caused by a sudden rise in air temperature and construction below the Neris.
“With the formation of ice clumps near Radikiai, water can get closer to residential buildings. Currently, the ice is breaking on the new Kleboniškis bridge under construction, so the likelihood of congestion on it is decreasing.” After the current hydrometeorological conditions, we expect the flood in the first week of March “, the forecast was presented by a senior specialist.
2010 Flood / Photo by Tomas Ragina
Residents are preparing
Residents of both the Kaunas district and the city, located next to the Neris, anxiously watch the weather heat up. If the air temperature rises sharply during the day, there is still a chance that an iceberg will start.
Rising water can flow into people’s basements, flood objects and cause damage. And the sliding ice is also taking away valuable property, so residents of the Kaunas district who live near Neris are already preparing for a potential flood. The locals said they had already taken things out of the cellars, watching the forecasts. If the weather suddenly heats up, cars or other property that can be damaged by water will also be drawn in from the lower areas of the yard. However, there are those who believe that sandbag locks will not protect against water.
“The ice is on the Nery, so there will be a flood and an iceberg. There is nothing to prepare for, there are things up and waiting. Whoever lives by the river has to accept a beautiful view, but sometimes also with the flood” . It started with us, because there used to be islands here.
The man assured that there are not many possibilities to stop the glacier, after all, according to the interlocutor, it will not introduce dams on the other side of the river that prevent the sexes from going up the river. True, the Kaunas district resident recalled that one year peat was poured into the Nery near Kaunas, it was said that it created better permeability, and as a result no ice clump was formed in the lower reaches.
After evaluating the current hydrometeorological conditions, we are expecting the flood of the first week of March.
“Furthermore, the behavior of environmentalists is sometimes surprising. A few fish seem to be more important, preventing them from doing anything. Be moved, ”recalled the local neighbor.
Insights from many years of experience
Gediminas Jankus has been responsible for Kaunas civil security and emergency management for many years. The former safety specialist agreed with “Kauno diena” to share information on whether Kaunas and the district are really in danger from another flood.
“In case of flooding, the most dangerous places remain near Kleboniškis and Radikiai, on the other side of the river. These places were mostly ice clumps, because there are certain shoals and islands on which the ice rests. I don’t believe the story 2010 Will Happen “If gradually thawed, the ice cream will move and just be washed away. But preparation is still necessary, because everything always depends on the weather conditions and the water level that rises, “G Jankus told the newspaper.
He himself lives in Kleboniškis, so he can closely observe whether there is danger or not. G.Jankus noted that in the past there were many flooded meadows on the shore, but for several years these places have been private property. So even though construction is not yet underway, the territories are managed quickly, land is transported and plots are erected. According to G. Jankus, this will also contribute to the fact that the water should not flood the population as much as a decade ago.
“I believe that both the city and the district municipalities already have planned actions, although we have not received any warning yet. But certainly the neighbors will be informed if there is a risk to ensure the safety of their property. But so far not” See any risk important “, former head of the Department of Civil Protection of the municipality of the city of Kaunas.
The ice is breaking
However, in addition to the natural islands in Neris mentioned above, which were hampered by the sex of the ice, this year there is a place where ice clumps can form. A new bridge is being built on the A1 highway, so due to the construction works at this location, the Neris river channel has been narrowed by almost a third.
“It is possible that the supports are an additional obstacle to the floating ice. Another dangerous place is near Vilijampole, where the Neris takes a turn, but when new houses are built there were concrete dams that prevent the ice from rising to the house “. then everything should be fine, but otherwise the ice can get stuck there “, – G.Jankus shared his ideas.
This year, the Neris is freezing, so there is a fear that the ice will pile up and flood. (Photo by Justina Lasauskaitė)
The new bridge over the Neris is being built by Kauno tiltai. His representatives told the newspaper that every effort was being made to avoid the ice clutter on the bridge. Therefore, the dredge is already breaking the ice in this place.
After the warming of the climate and the intensification of the thaw in the Neris river, the company “Kauno tiltai” actively continues the preventive works started earlier. The situation is constantly monitored by cameras installed at the construction site of the new bridge. And decisions are made.
One of the measures we are trying to avoid possible ice cream congestion is for a multi-functional excavator to break the ice cream on the shore. We use the Watermaster Classic IV vessel with an excavator arm up to 7m long. If the ice cube is put into operation, as decided at the Kaunas district emergency management meeting, we would immediately inform the services and, if possible, work with our team, ”said the representatives of“ Kauno tiltai ” .
Will install monitoring stations
Taking care of the safety of residents and their properties, the Kaunas District Municipality has prepared information brochures “How to prepare for a possible spring flood?”, Which will be distributed to people this week.
The residents of the Lapiai, Karmėlava and Domeikava elders will receive brochures, as these areas fall into risk areas that can be flooded. The elders will also knock on the doors of the inhabitants of the settlements located below Kaunas, since the water can also rise near the village of Šilelis, Kačerginas and Kulautuva. In the memoirs, residents will find advice on how to prepare for a possible flood, how to deal with it during or after it.
Representatives of the Kaunas district municipality stated that it is planned to install another monitoring station near Radikiai in the near future, which will allow measuring the rise in water. According to representatives of the district municipality, there is already a sound system to warn residents of rising water.
In addition, special billboards are being put up near settlements near Nerimi to provide information on flooding, rising water and contacts so that people can come for help.
Major changes are still being planned at Radikiai. According to ELTA, after long disputes, it was decided to build a protective embankment near the town of Radikiai. Last December, the Kaunas District Municipality Administration and the Environmental Project Management Agency signed an agreement: the construction of a protective embankment in Radikiai will start this year. It must protect against floods and coastal farms below the town. However, only design procedures are being carried out so far and a worrying situation is already taking place regarding possible flooding.
The 2010 floods
The 2010 flood, of which interlocutors spoke, had not scared the residents of the Kaunas district. This time, I even had to declare a state of emergency.
“Kauno diena” recalls that this time the water level of the Neris near Kaunas rose steeply due to snowmelt and heavy rains. The residents of Radikiai, Saliai and Kleboniškis suffered the most. Some of them were evacuated at night and had to leave their place of residence.
“As I ran into the basement, I saw a big wave of water break the basement window and instantly filled the entire basement. Within 5 minutes, the water flooded the first floor. I took the whole family to the second floor and called the rescuers: “father of four children. Rescuers who arrived soon had to navigate to the house. Family members lifted family members through second floor windows.
2010 Flood / Photo by Tomas Ragina
Another Radikiai resident told the newspaper at the time that he had barely managed to save a teenage son sleeping in the basement. The father feared that the water entering the room with great force could severely press the son against the wall and injure him.
Other residents buried their cars and other riches accumulated during their lives under the sudden rise of water. The floods then caused damage as needed, so people living along the Neris still eagerly await a repeat of the 2010 natural disaster.
2010 Flood / Photo by Tomas Ragina
Photo by Tomas Ragina, Justina Lasauskaitė
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