R O M A N I AMINISTRY OF ADMINISTRATION AND INTERIORGENERAL INSPECTORATE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

ROMANIAN EXPERIENCE IN ROMANIAN EXPERIENCE IN FLOODS MANAGEMENT FLOODS MANAGEMENT -- 20102010

Following the severe rainfalls that affected Romania starting 21.06.2010, 37 counties out of a total of 41 were seriously affected by floods, torrents, flash floods or land slides. The most affected counties were in the NE part of the country: Iasi, Suceava, Neamt, Bacau, Botosani, Covasna, Galati and Vaslui.

GENERAL SITUATION

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE DAMAGES

•6.746.770 persons affected•19.997 persons temporary evacuated •23 deceased•8.882 houses affected •aprox. 700 km of defensive works /embankments destroyed, 35 dams damaged

•5.257 km of national, county and local roads affected

•707 bridges and 2.729 small bridges damaged

•110.585 hectares of crops, 33.110 hectares of pastures, vineyards and 8.220 hectares of saplings destroyed;

•public utilities, social/public establishments affected (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, churches, etc);

Estimated direct damages (June-July 2010)aprox. 875 millions EURO

FLOODED AREAS

EVACUATED AREAS

ISOLATED AREAS

The local and national authorities were mobilized to undertake appropriate actions, both at the warning stage and response, especially for evacuation of people and domestic animals.

•activation of national, county and local committees for emergency situations

•evacuation of the population •provision of medical assistance, water, shelter, food and transportation for evacuated population

•monitoring the rivers levels and the defence works

•water evacuation •setting-up and reinforcement of defence works

•protective dike (inside the city), with a height of 1,5 meters and a length of 4,5 km was build to protect the city of Galati

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Intervention forces: more than 4500 rescuers belonging to General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and subordinated units, other structures from Ministry of Administration and Interior (Gendarmerie, Police, Border Police, Air Forces), Ministry of Defence, County Committees for Emergency Situations personnel, Emergency Situations Voluntary Services and other institutions

Total of 19.736 interventions

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Considering the consequences of the severe hydro and meteorological phenomena that occurred, the size of the affected area, number of the affected persons and the need of additionally technical means for intervention (according to the forecast and foreseen development of the situation), Romanian authorities decided, on the 2nd of July to request international assistance trough the Civil Protection Mechanism, consisting in:

Inflatable dikes Water pumps Power generatorsGeotextile Water purification units Lightning kits

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Location of European assistanceUpdated: 4/7/2010

AT: 10 motto pumps, 3 power generatorsBE: 11 motto pumps 1 water purification unit, 5 power generators

DE: 5000 sqm geotextile

FLOODSFLOODS ININ

ROMANIAROMANIA

Austria has offered asa donation to Romania10 motto pumps and3 power generators 14KVA

Belgium has offered asa donation to Romania11 pumps, 5 powergenerators 3,3 KWA and1 water purification unit.

BELGIUM

AUSTRIA

Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva visit in

Romanian affected areas, 9-10 July 2010.

LESSONS LEARNED AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Operations:

The following issues were identified as lessons learned and areas for improvement:

The need for supplying the local and county responders with more adequate means of intervention according to the specific risks in their area of responsibility;

Intervention efforts must be correlated to weather/water forecast

Foresee the integration of international support into the national one and arrange cross border procedures (including necessary papers and appointment of responsible persons for receiving international assistance)

Always have in mind cost effectiveness/ reevaluate the situation if necessary

LESSONS LEARNED AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Legislative:

Development (in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Regional Development) of a major project for the improvement of the flood prevention and protection in the upstream of Prut and Siret rivers, along with the implementation of a system with automatic water level monitoring stations

Need for improvement the level of preparedness of the local authorities

Strengthening the cooperation with neighboring countries – usually first responders on bilateral basis

Need for improvement of national disaster damage assessment regulations

• Speed up the process of drawing up the risks maps according to the Flood Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks (deadline 2013);

• Following a long process started in 2008, in September 2010 it was adopted the National Strategy for the Management of the Flood Risk, for medium and long terms. This strategy address issues such as integrated management of the water sources, land management and urban development, environment protection including forestry and agriculture, protection of the transport infrastructure, tourist areas, and individual protection.

• The Ministry of Administration and Interior in cooperation with Ministry of Environment and Forests are developing the Guidelines on the management of the emergency situations generated by floods, dangerous meteorological phenomena, and hydro-technical accidents, accidental pollutions (on rivers and sea shore), meant to complete and improve the existing national regulations in this field.

• Apply for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund (31st of August)

LESSONS LEARNED - FOLLOW UP

THANK YOU!

GENERAL INSPECTORATE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS46, Banu Dumitrache street, 023765, BUCHARESTphone: 0040 21 232 9586fax: 0040 21 242 0990e-mail: igsu@mai.gov.ro