Severe Storm in Wiener Neustadt District: 15 Fire Departments Deployed for Extended Operations

Situation in the Individual Locations

As the emergency services reported, „galt es zahlreiche Keller und Garagen auszupumpen, die teilweise über einen Meter unter Wasser standen". The Sollenau fire department had to deploy, among other places, to operations on Wiener Neustädter Straße, Großmittelstraße, Mühlstraße/Stiftergasse, and Raaberbahngasse.

Uprooted trees also posed significant challenges for the responders. On Am Tulpenweg and in Birkengasse, according to the Floriani, „eine entwurzelte Fichte mithilfe unserer Drehleiter schrittweise abgetragen werden" had to be done. The FF Eggendorf additionally reported: „Zudem hielten mehrere Bäume den starken Sturmböen nicht stand und mussten beseitigt werden".

The FF Theresienfeld was also in continuous operation according to its own statements and had to handle 17 operations within a very short time. At another location — the exact town does not emerge from the available reports — the emergency services even handled 24 operations.

Damage and Affected Traffic Routes

In total, according to the reports, around 65 operation sites had to be processed. Into the nighttime hours, approximately 15 volunteer fire departments were deployed according to the operation reports to clear flooded basements, flooded streets, and downed trees.

The A2 South Motorway was among the most severely affected traffic routes. Flooded carriageways led to restrictions for traffic there. Specific information about injuries or damage to buildings has not yet been provided.

While the cleanup work was underway, emergency services warned in their reports about further possible operations. Since storms of this kind frequently occur in stages, the fire departments maintained readiness to respond to subsequent operations.

Background: Clustering of Severe Storms in the Region

The Wiener Neustadt district is one of the Lower Austrian regions regularly affected by severe summer thunderstorms. As recently as the beginning of July, similar weather patterns along the Thermenlinie and in the Gloggnitz area had led to several hundred fire department operations.

Notices from the Fire Departments

The fire departments ask residents in the district to continue keeping gutters and light wells clear and not to park vehicles in low-lying areas or close to trees. In the event of further damage, the district alarm center should be notified via the emergency number 122.