Prague is building new flood barriers. Last year's experience justifies the measures
Last year's experience with devastating floods confirmed that the threat coming with the water element in the Czech territory is far from resolved. Prague is planning new investments in flood protection measures on Rašín Embankment. Although extensive damage, which Prague faced in 2002, was avoided last year, data from hydrometeorologists show that last year's autumn precipitation was extreme and flood protection measures thus have not missed their effect.
Last year's floods hit predominantly the northern and northeastern regions of Moravia and Silesia with their destructive force. In the foothills of Jeseníky, the natural disaster left behind hundreds of demolished cottages. The hydrometeorological forecasts at that time were not favorable even for large cities in the Morava river basin and its tributaries.
The second largest city, Brno, was unprepared in case of an adverse scenario. The threatening centennial flood would have left the inhabitants of the Moravian metropolis endangered, given that anti-flood measures for such a large inflow of water were not built in the city. It was only by coincidence that the Brno reservoir did not overflow and the worst-case scenario did not materialize
The precipitation total was record-breaking last year, but Prague remained safe
In Prague, fortunately, the progress from 2002 did not repeat. However, the reason was not just a more favorable distribution of rainfall. As the analysis of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute shows, the precipitation total was extreme last year.
"The total average precipitation amount for September 2024 in the Czech Republic reached 179 mm (which represents 298 % of the normal 1991–2020). It is therefore the highest value of the precipitation total for September and the second highest monthly precipitation total in the Czech Republic ever since 1961. A higher monthly precipitation total (204 mm) was only recorded in July 1997,"
The experts explain in the analysis.
The councilors of the capital city want to further improve the anti-flood system, which has been gradually built since the devastating flood in 2002. Currently, the city leadership has approved a proposal for a public contract for the construction of new mobile flood barriers on Rašín's Embankment. At present, at a place generally called "Náplavka", it is mainly anticipated to use sandbags, the construction of which has time and logistical difficulties. Therefore, Prague wants to have a more reliable solution available in the city center.
"We will supplement the current protection of Prague with a new mobile barrier measuring 450 meters in length on Rašín's Embankment. The investment of over 16 million crowns will strengthen the flood prevention system in the very heart of the city," said Prague Councilor for Infrastructure Michal Hroza (TOP 09).
Mayor Svoboda emphasizes readiness for extreme climatic events
The measures built at the site are of great importance for flood protection in other local parts of the wider center of Prague such as Old Town, Josefov, Karlín, or Holešovice. In the parts where there are many apartment buildings, the protection against possible floods will be strengthened.
"Protecting the lives and property of Prague residents is one of our highest priorities. The construction of a modern mobile flood barrier on Rašínovo nábřeží is another step to strengthen the metropolis's readiness for extreme weather events. In the area, which is both a symbolic and a transport heart of the city, we acquire a quickly deployable and reliable solution, which significantly shortens the reaction time in case of flood threat. I am glad that Prague continues to build a robust and thoughtful flood protection system,"
The Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) commented on the plans.
The flood control barrier itself will have two parts. The northern part is designed to be approximately 125 m long, and the southern part should be about 325 m long. It will follow on from the already built mobile flood barriers in the Výtoň area, which covers a mobile flood barrier 47 m long with a barrier height of 0.645 m.
Usually, for barriers with aluminium railings, a height of 0.15 – 0.4 m is considered, this height includes a safety reserve of 0.3 m which is proposed for the entire flood protection in Prague. According to the information published by the city hall, the estimated cost of the job is 16 200 000 CZK, and the work on the new measure should last three months.
The entire flood prevention system, built systematically since the devastating floods in 2002, has a length of about 20 kilometers in Prague. It also includes unique flood gates on Čertovka. The city has already invested over 4 billion crowns into this infrastructure since the floods, which resulted in the evacuation of 50,000 people.
Sources: author's text, TZ, Hl. m. Prague, chmi.cz, deník.cz, ekolist.cz
