Overview
Communities in several Central and Eastern European countries flooded recently following heavy rains and snow from Storm Boris. Affected countries include Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
Thousands of people have been evacuated; at least 22 people are dead, and several are still missing. Tens of thousands of people are without power.
In many communities, Storm Boris dropped a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, beginning Sept. 13 and continuing for several days. Due to ground saturation, snow melts and paths of rivers, additional places may still experience flooding.
(Photo: Flooding in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Sept. 16, 2024. Credit: Police of the Czech Republic Facebook)
A dam in the Czech Republic burst its banks, flooding several communities downstream. The country received three months of rain in three days. Some regions in Italy are expected to receive two to three months of rainfall between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20.
Some regions of Austria received five times the average September rainfall in just a few days, leading to 12 broken dams and massive power outages.
Although emergency efforts are ongoing, those in flood-affected areas are also preparing for more rain. The coming days are critical, as the swollen rivers are sending water downstream.
In Romania, 19 localities were affected, and 700 homes were reported to have been destroyed in one county. The Danube River was described as “swallowing riverside roads.”
EU crisis management commissioner Janez Lenarcic warned that the eastern floods and wildfires in Portugal on the bloc’s western fringe showed that “the global reality of climate breakdown has moved into the everyday lives of Europeans.”
Latest Updates
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, September 23
Key impact statistics
- GallagherRe, one of the largest global reinsurers, describes the cost as “minimal,” estimating losses will be between $2.231 billion (EUR 2 billion) to $3.346 billion (EUR 3 billion).
- Rivers in the Czech Republic and Austria overflowed their banks, flooding homes and forcing evacuations of entire towns.
- Storm Boris caused flash floods and riverine flooding, which occurs when the waters from a creek or river rise and break its bank, causing flooding in low-lying areas.
- Tens of thousands of people had to flee their homes with flood watches still in place, including 40,000 people in Poland from the town of Nysa and 15,000 in the Czech Republic along the Czech-Polish border.
- At least 22 people have died, including seven in each of Poland and Romania, five in the Czech Republic, and three in Austria. One of the deaths in Austria was a firefighter responding to the crisis.
- Poland’s Prime Minister has said they will declare a state of natural disaster for 30 days, and the Austrian province around Vienna was declared a disaster area.
- The flooding in Austria has broken a dozen dams.
- Hungary has deployed more than 350 soldiers to reinforce flood barriers as rivers continue to surge.
Additional resources
CDP maintains disaster profiles to help funders understand the needs of affected communities. For more updated resources about precise impacts, please see the following sources:
- Copernicus: European Flood Awareness System
- Copernicus: Emergency Management
- European Commission: European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
Many people are isolated in small, rural villages because of the flooding. People need urgent emergency relief support, including medicine, food, clothing, cattle feed, hygiene and dignity kits, temporary shelter materials, and clean water. Some roads remain impassable due to damage or can only be accessed by small vehicles that cannot hold a lot of supplies.
Associated Press noted: “Rains cause widespread destruction every year, but experts say climate change is shifting weather patterns and increasing the number of extreme weather events.”
Cash assistance
As with most disasters, experts recommend cash donations, which allow on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure in-kind donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.
Many people lost everything in the floods. Direct cash assistance allows families to purchase items and services locally that address their multiple needs. It gives each family flexibility and choice, ensuring that support is relevant and timely. Cash assistance can also help move families faster toward rebuilding their lives.
Protection
Protection
After a disaster, the protection of vulnerable individuals (including women, children, older adults and people with disabilities) and ensuring access to basic rights are immediate priorities. Gender-based violence, including sexual assault and trafficking of vulnerable individuals, is often a priority concern. The protection and security of children are also major concerns.
Since flooding impacted rural populations as well as urban areas, it is particularly important that disaster response and recovery is tailored to the specific needs of the affected communities.
Marginalized people, including refugees, people with disabilities, the elderly, transgender people, women and unaccompanied children, experience greater difficulties in accessing essential aid and services and are vulnerable to abuse, violence and exploitation at points of assistance.
CDP has a Global Recovery Fund that provides an opportunity for donors to meet the ongoing and ever-expanding challenges presented by global crises. Select “2024 Central and Eastern Europe Floods” from the dropdown menu.
Contact CDP
Philanthropic contributions
If you have questions about donating to the CDP Global Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy or want to share how you’re responding to this disaster, please contact development.
(Photo: Flooding in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Sept. 16, 2024. Credit: Police of the Czech Republic Facebook)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to tanya.gulliver-garcia@disasterphilanthropy.org.
We welcome the republication of our content. Please credit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
More Ways to Help
CDP recommends that you ask the experts if you are considering supporting an organization or fund that is positioned to work in an affected area.
- CDP’s team is ready to help you with resources and support on responding to this disaster. You can find a variety of helpful resources on our website or reach out to one of the contacts above for more information.
- InterAction can provide resources and guidance about organizations working in affected communities.
- The Council on Foundations provides Country Notes for several countries to help foundations understand giving requirements, laws and regulations in various countries. Country notes for several European countries are available.
Resources
Floods
Flooding is our nation’s most common natural disaster. Regardless of whether a lake, river or ocean is actually in view, everyone is at some risk of flooding. Flash floods, tropical storms, increased urbanization and the failing of infrastructure such as dams and levees all play a part — and cause millions (sometimes billions) of dollars in damage across the U.S. each year.
Emergency and Interim Shelter
After a disaster, shelter is more than a place to rest, it is a place of security, access to food, water and medical treatment. A place to start recovering after a disaster.
Critical Infrastructure and Systems
Critical Infrastructure and Systems (CIS) are the structures people rely on to perform their everyday tasks. They are what keep people, goods and information moving around the world while also keeping people safe and healthy.
