Kaunas d. waiting for the flood: people are encouraged to leave, accumulate, learn distress signals

The construction of the bridge did not foresee the risk of an icebreaker

Will the catastrophe that occurred a decade ago, when the village of Radikiai in Kaunas district was occupied in Nery near Kaunas due to the spontaneous formation of ice groups, will it repeat itself? Experts predict that this time the flood may happen again, the Kaunas district municipality is already preparing for a possible natural disaster.

Of particular concern is the fact that the construction of the new bridge over the Neris has significantly reduced the river bed. The water of the Neris that flows towards Kaunas in this place enters like a funnel. The river is still frozen at the moment, it is possible that the ice will move at the end of this week or next.

At the meeting of the Emergency Operations Center held in the Kaunas district municipality last week, it was clarified what to do if frosts form and flood threatens.

“Sex on the ice has already stopped in some parts of the Neris, which is worrying. I would not like the situation that happened 10 years ago to repeat itself,” said Mantas Rikteris, deputy director of the Kaunas district municipality administration .

It turned out that during the preparation of the new bridge, which will have to solve the problem of congestion on the Vilnius – Klaipėda highway, the risk of glaciers was not assessed and protection against possible floods was not provided.

This was confirmed by Nemunas Abukauskas, Head of the Road Safety Division of the Lithuanian Highway Administration, who participated in the meeting.

“When designing such objects and carrying out the construction, we did not anticipate the problems caused by natural conditions. We believe that the narrowing of the channel due to construction would not have a decisive impact on a possible flood. Of course, an emergency situation can occur, so the contractor is monitoring the area, because he is also interested in protecting the construction site, ”said N. Abukauskas.

The ice is broken by an excavator with a bucket

Representatives of the Kauno Tiltai company, which is building the new bridge, express concern about possible threats. Hidrum, a company with special equipment, was hired to break the ice at the entrances to the bridge.

The Watermaster Classic IV multifunctional excavator, currently operating in Neris, with high hopes, can only operate until the ice has moved in the river. When the glacier begins, this ship will become powerless against the element, the work will have to stop. Darius Šapkauskas, director of production at the private stock company Hidrum, told Delfi this.

“So far, it is possible to break the ice, its thickness is 25 cm., Near the shore about 40 cm. The ice is breaking so that the river has a channel and the floating ice can pass over the bridge without stopping, ”said D. Šapkauskas.

A spokesperson for Hidrum said dangerous ice clumps could form at the entrances to an island a few hundred meters upstream, not on the bridge under construction.

“I think the main place of ice accumulation will be in front of this island. This is a natural obstacle, which caused flooding 10 years ago, because the ice on the islands raised the water level,” said the hydraulic engineer.

He considered that everything would depend on the air temperature. If it is positive both day and night, it will increase the probability of flooding. If it’s cold at night, there may be no flooding.

“Another important point: first of all, the soil is covered with a thick layer, there is practically no freezing, so the soil itself will accumulate much of the water. This is one of the reasons why there may not be a big flood, ”said D. Šapkauskas, production manager at Hidrum, a company hired by Kauno tiltų.

The situation is monitored by video cameras.

Giedrė Samulionytė – Lekavičienė, a spokesperson for the bridge construction company Kauno tiltai, mentioned that in preparation for a possible natural breakthrough, not only was an icebreaker hired, but the situation was constantly monitored by video cameras.

“When the ice congestion starts on the bridge under construction, as decided at the Kaunas District Emergency Management Meeting, we would immediately inform services and, if possible, work with our team. The newly built bridge over the Neris is covered by construction risk insurance. This is how we also ban all other objects.

We would like to point out that AB Kauno tiltai is only responsible for the location of the river bed at the object. According to experts, the main risk of ice agglomeration and flooding is in the upper part of the river from the location of the bridge under construction.

As mentioned, maximum efforts are being made both during glacier monitoring and in active cooperation with other institutions to prevent the threat of floods, ”said G. Samulionytė-Lekavičienė, representative of Kauno tiltai.

The dredge won’t hold up to the icebreaker – work will have to stop when the sexes move

Currently, the icebreaker excavator works only for days. According to the Hidrum representative, if necessary, special teams will work here 24 hours.

Will a small ship be able to withstand the moving mass of ice genera?

“Once the ice in the river moves around the perimeter, we must go. The ship weighs 17 tons, but no one has struggled with the mass of ice cream yet,” said D. Šapkauskas.

Referring to the theoretical possibility of using an icebreaker, Hidrum’s production director said it would help, if only at this point, to break the ice and loosen the river bed. And before the glacier started, he would be powerless.

One of the possible options to reduce the risk of flooding is to spread peat in the Neris, which is still melting. When the sun shines, its dark surface heats up quickly and melts the ice.

Juozas Ravinis, president of the Radikiai village community, which was severely affected by the flood 10 years ago, predicted that there should be no stronger floods this year: the ice sheet on the river is not thick.

He regretted that insurance companies are extremely reluctant to insure residents’ property against flood damage. The principle is that by settling in lower places, a person seems to risk the consequences of a possible river flood.

The Kaunas District Municipality announces that construction of a protective embankment will begin in Radikiai in the spring. This defense measure against floods will cost 1,241 million. The municipality will allocate 93 thousand euros for this purpose. The rest will be funds from the European Union.

However, the president of the rural community, J. Ravinis, doubts that the rising embankment will effectively protect the homes of residents from flooding. He noted that flood water could enter through the stream that empties into the Neris …

The ice is set to melt and explode

In preparation for a possible flood, the Kaunas district municipality approached environmentalists asking whether a permit would be granted to blow up the ice and whether it would not harm nature.

It was also decided to carry out a market assessment of where peat could be purchased and how it could be spread over ice to allow the sexes to sneak up and dissolve in the river.

Brochures describing how to deal with a natural disaster are already being distributed to residents of areas that may have access to floodplains. People are told not only how to store, but also how to ask for help.

People are encouraged to evacuate, to know the signs of help.

“The Fire and Rescue Department recommends that pregnant women, the sick, the elderly and children living in potentially flooded areas go to safer places. Those who decide to stay in the flood zone are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the plan prepared evacuation from the residential area, which can be found on the notice boards of the elderly.

Residents are advised to provide waterproof clothing, perishable food, medicine, mobile devices, and other essential items. All electrical outlets must be insulated. If there is a risk of suffocation, remove food and valuables from basements. Remove reserves of fertilizers and pesticides, do not leave open contaminants that can damage the environment.

If you decide to go to a safer place, close the water and gas valves, turn off the light, bring your documents and essentials before leaving home.

To find out how many people are left in the flooded area, check in with the neighborhood when you leave.

Stay in touch with your neighbors, be prepared to help each other.

Payment help signs: a raised piece of cloth (at night – light from a flashlight) means that help is needed, wash a piece of cloth (at night – a flashing lamp light) – urgent help is needed ”, – the announcements are distributed in Kaunas district residents.