After the nocturnal analyses, when the level of the Moravia peaked on the Moravian profile, it is clear that compared to 1997, the situation is more favorable. At 10:30 p.m., the water level in this area reached 441 cm and the flow rate 303 m3/s, compared to 489 cm in 1997. After Moravičany, the Morava continues to flow through the floodplain forests of Litovelské Pomoraví, which should also significantly help Olomouc. “We’ve probably had the most demanding night, but it looks like Olomouc should have water below the 20-year flood limit. Now we have selected critical places that we have to watch carefully, because water with a flow rate of up to 270 m3/s will flow through Olomouc, which will be a big blow to the dams,” explained the secretary of the flood commission, Jan Langr.
According to him, all the dams holding the Morava in their channel should last, with the exception of Chomoutov, where the risk of spillage not only into basements, but also into real estate is high, especially on the left bank of the Morava River towards Štěpánov. “However, leaks cannot be ruled out in other parts of the city, for example in Lazce or near Klášterní Hradisk, where experts will continuously monitor the situation. They will also check the condition on the embankment, where the flood protection is apparently working,” added Langr. Over the weekend, Povodí Morava workers concentrated on the Litovelska region, but also, for example, repaired the dams in Černovír.
Climax early Wednesday morning
According to the current model, the water level in the profile of Nové Sada should reach 4.7 meters and culminate at this level. It should happen in the early hours of Wednesday morning. “The warning is still valid so that people do not stay in close proximity to the Morava, as it will really be a huge volume of water and it will culminate like this for several days. It is also necessary to draw attention to the risk of drifting objects under the surface, which can pose a danger to people who decide to practice adrenaline-pumping water sports,” pointed out the mayor of the city, Miroslav Žbánek. At the same time, he thanked everyone who is involved in anti-flood measures. “A huge thank you goes to the city’s volunteer firefighters, who are everywhere they are needed, be it bagging sand or building a mobile barrier in Chomoutov. At the same time, I thank the volunteer firefighters from the Chválkovice, Droždín and Topolany units who help in the Jesenicko area, where the situation was tragic.”
Groundwater threatens the whole of Olomouc
All measures so far have been rather preventive, because the flood wave is only really rolling over Olomouc at this moment. And although, according to hydrometeorologists’ predictions, a flood is expected below the 20-year water limit, i.e. the one from 2006, a groundwater warning applies to the entire territory of Olomouc. “Flooding of underground and basement spaces can be expected in the entire city. Citizens and companies should secure these spaces, remove valuables from there and, above all, prepare for the possibility that there may be power outages and threats to their operation until the end of the week,” added Jan Langr, secretary of the flood commission.
Citizens should also secure their vehicles against groundwater. “There is no need to park en masse throughout the city. Rather, it is a matter of not leaving vehicles in lower-lying places where there is a risk of groundwater rising. In this regard, we are accommodating the citizens and from Monday to Friday we are introducing free parking in zone B2, including the Legionářská parking lot,” noted Olomouc Mayor Miroslav Žbánek.
It is also still possible to pick up sand at the technical services area in Libušina Street. Residents of Olomouc can either collect the sand in their own bags, for those who do not have bags, they can receive up to ten bags per property. Sand will be available at this location on Mondays from 12 to 7 p.m., and on Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents of Chomoutov can pick up sandbags at the local fire station.
In Olomouc, there are currently no plans to limit the operation of primary or kindergarten schools.
Well owners should not drink water from them
The Litovel spring stopped supplying water to Olomouc. The reason is a power outage. “Given that it is one of the seven sources, the city’s supply of drinking water is not threatened and continues to flow,” confirmed Roman Úlehla, operational technical manager of the Moravian Waterworks. The Pňovice–Březová spring resort has also experienced a short-term power outage, but it is already in full operation again. The springs and the water treatment plant in Černovír operate without problems.
However, the regional hygiene station warns residents who are dependent only on their own well not to use it until the water recedes and to prepare for possible disinfection.
Do not go into the forest, there is a risk of falling trees
Caution still applies when moving near flooded streams. “Due to waterlogging, damage, overturning and falling of trees can occur. In the interest of safety and health protection, we recommend not walking under mature trees or staying near them. Above all, I would like to emphasize that citizens should not go to the forest, especially to the urban forests in Litovelské Pomoraví. But this warning applies to all forest stands and city parks,” warns Petr Loyka, head of the Department of the Environment.
The commission meets twice a day
“According to the current forecasts, up to 10 mm of rain should fall in the Jeseníky area today, so the situation should probably not get any worse,” adds Jan Langr, secretary of the flood commission.
The flood commission of the city and ORP Olomouc will meet this afternoon, then again on Tuesday morning, to evaluate the situation on the streams, or to take additional safety measures, should any endangered place appear in the Morava riverbed. In addition, citizens will be informed via the website, press releases, flood showcases, or via the radios of the warning information system of the city of Olomouc.
The emergency service of the protection department of the municipality of Olomouc continues to monitor the situation on waterways and the hydrometeorological forecast.
More information about the situation can be found on the website The Morava basin a Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Basic advice for citizens in flood-prone areas:
- Follow the instructions of mayors of municipalities and IZS units.
- Follow the development of the situation in the mass media, for example through public media, social networks of the HZS regions, social networks and other communication channels of your municipalities, ČHMÚ. Follow both local news and weather warnings.
- Have an adequate supply of drinking water.
- Prepare your evacuation luggage.
- Charge your mobile phones, charge and prepare your power banks.
- Prepare your homes in case of a flood.
Recommendations to mitigate the consequences of the phenomena:
- Remove, clean, or secure anything around the structure that could be washed away by water.
- Find out in advance where the water and gas shut-offs are and how to close them quickly in case of evacuation, how to turn off the fuses. Unplug electrical appliances that you are not using at the moment.
- If possible, move expensive furniture and valuables to higher floors. Damage to an unprepared house can be up to ten times higher than to a house that is cleared and prepared for the arrival of a flood.
- Prepare sandbags and sealing foil.
- Secure chemicals that could potentially contaminate water and the environment.
