Armed Forces: Emergency aid through disaster operations now also in Burgenland

2023-08-05 09:30:11

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “We reassess the situation every hour. We’ll do it together!”

Vienna (OTS) – With the deployment in Carinthia, now with 120 soldiers and now 120 Styrian task forces in south-eastern Styria, a further 139 soldiers were on disaster relief missions in Burgenland during the night hours. A total of almost 400 members of the armed forces are helping to support local emergency services. A helicopter is in action in Carinthia. More are ready. Hourly assessments for further emergency response ongoing.

“In these dramatic hours, our soldiers stand by the population! They help to rescue people from their homes, remove mudslides or stack sandbags to keep the floods at bay. We reassess the situation hourly should there be a need for more equipment or staff. I can assure you of one thing in any case: The Austrian Armed Forces and its soldiers stand by the state of Carinthia, Styria and Burgenland day and night – stay strong, we can do it together!” says Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.

Disaster relief at night in Burgenland

139 soldiers from the Güssing barracks were alerted in the evening hours yesterday and helped the local fire brigades in Güssing and along the Strem into the night to set up flood barriers and fill the sandbags required for this. Due to the relaxation of the weather situation in Burgenland, the emergency services are currently in the barracks ready to help again immediately if they are needed by the civil authorities for assistance. To this end, assessments are constantly being carried out at state level – together with army experts.

Assistance mission in Styria

Since Friday evening, 120 soldiers have been deployed in south-eastern Styria. Emergency services from the Strasser barracks support the local fire brigade in the Leibnitz area and soldiers from the Feldbach barracks help in the Feldbach area to contain the flood situation – for example by filling sandbags.

Reinforcement of emergency services in Carinthia

A total of 50 pioneer soldiers were deployed in Carinthia yesterday, but due to the challenging situation, this has now been increased to 120 specialists from Carinthia. Disaster specialists with heavy engineering equipment are currently still on duty north of Bad Eisenkappel. Other soldiers are helping the local emergency services to set up flood barriers around Viktring. 35 soldiers fill sandbags in the Bleiburg barracks. An AB212 transport helicopter helps the emergency services from the air. Other helicopters are ready for operations.

Alert by civil authorities

If a catastrophe is imminent – for example due to persistent rain – the soldiers prepare in their barracks and stand by. To move out, there is always a requirement from civil authorities from the federal, state or local governments.

The state warning centers are then responsible in their region and coordinate the use of the army in accordance with the helpers of the fire brigade and other organizations.