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All rights reserved A Samaritan's Purse team is working alongside local churches to help residents of Jesenik clean up after catastrophic flooding in Central Europe Samaritan’s Purse staff members are hard at work in the northwestern corner of the Czech Republic after torrential rain pounded several Central European countries on Sept At least 30 people have lost their lives in the flooding and thousands of residents evacuated the area Our teams are helping residents clean out homes in and around the city of Jesenik situated in the mountainous Olomouc region Working in partnership with local churches all while sharing the love of Jesus Christ “This region received a year’s worth of rain in one storm,” said Jon Stone who is leading the response the river valleys experienced flash flooding that exceeded the last known flood levels from 1997.” and this area of Central Europe as they pick up the pieces of their lives and brace for more rains in the coming days Pray also for our partner churches as they seek to minister to people in need amid their own losses Samaritan’s Purse is providing purified drinking water and essential supplies in.. Samaritan’s Purse mobile medical units in Ukraine are providing healthcare near the.. the Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital in.. International Crisis Response Samaritan's Purse stands ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes We specialize in international disaster relief meeting critical needs for victims of conflict often working through ministry partners on the ground and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ These year-round volunteers serve in Leadership or Student Relations to promote the work of Operation Christmas Child in every season These volunteers teach The Greatest Journey discipleship course to shoebox recipients and train others how to lead the 12-lesson study These short-term volunteers welcome shoebox donors and load their precious cargo onto trucks at nearly 5,000 locations across the country These volunteers share the Gospel at outreach events where shoebox gifts are delivered These volunteers train pastors and community leaders to host Operation Christmas Child outreach events and also equip The Greatest Journey teachers They also help coordinate the logistics of shoebox gift delivery in their country These short-term volunteers prepare shoebox gifts for international shipping at eight locations across the U.S.: Atlanta; Boone North Carolina; Baltimore; Charlotte; Chicago; Denver; Dallas and Southern California These seasonal volunteers coordinate shoebox packing and collection for their church or group Estos Voluntarios de corto plazo dan la bienvenida a los donadores y suben su preciosa carga a los camiones en cerca de 5,000 lugares alrededor del país Estos voluntarios enseñan el curso de discipulado de La Gran Aventura a quienes reciben cajas de regalos y entrenan a otros en cómo dirigir el estudio de 12 lecciones Estos voluntarios temporales coordinan el empacado y la recolección de cajas de regalos para su iglesia o grupo Estos voluntarios entrenan pastores y líderes comunitarios para llevar a cabo los eventos de evangelismo de Operation Christmas Child y también capacitan a maestros para La Gran Aventura También ayudan a coordinar la logística de la entrega de las cajas de regalos en sus países Estos voluntarios de corto plazo preparan cajas de regalos para envío internacional en ocho lugares alrededor de Estados Unidos: Atlanta; Boone Carolina del Norte; Baltimore; Charlotte; Chicago; Denver; Dallas y Sur de California Estos voluntarios comparten el Evangelio en eventos de evangelismo donde se entregan las cajas de regalos Children who complete all 12 lessons receive a certificate at graduation This official memento of their accomplishment is a treasured keepsake for many The Greatest Journey graduates receive a New Testament in their own language This may be the first copy of the Scriptures they or their family have ever owned This colorful 12-lesson resource equips the student to follow along with the story This in-depth manual helps instructors apply Bible stories to their students’ lives to encourage the boys and girls to re-tell them to others The Greatest Journey teachers are taught to be good storytellers who ask questions of children to keep them engaged This method allows nonliterate cultures to participate and equips teachers to continue discipleship lessons with their students long after they complete the workbook o Relaciones Estudiantiles para promover el trabajo de Operation Christmas Child en cada temporada ¿Buscas Operation Christmas Child en español? It only costs $6 to provide lesson books and a Bible for a boy or girl participating in this discipleship program by Samaritan’s Purse It only costs $10 to provide a Bible or Christian literature for a family in need through the Christmas catalog This booklet invites children to receive God’s Greatest Gift This resource equips local churches with information on how to organize a distribution and invite boys and girls to participate in follow-up discipleship Examples Include t-shirts (size adult large or smaller) If you have a question about your product or service as a gift-in-kind Millions of shoeboxes and thousands of volunteers take up a lot of space You can help us each fall by donating empty warehouse space to be used as a processing center A facility from 30,000 to 100,000 square feet is needed near Atlanta many children have the opportunity to learn more about the Gospel through our Biblical discipleship program You can donate printing for leaders’ guides It only costs $6 to provide lesson books and a Bible for a boy or girl participating in the Samaritan’s Purse discipleship program. Learn more ￫ provides one shoebox recipient with a 12-lesson Bible study and the guidance of a trained teacher/mentor in the community Only giving online through Follow Your Box will enable you to discover the destination of your shoebox gift Attach a Follow-Your-Box tracking label to your shoebox, and you can use our Lookup Tool to find out the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ’s love Your $9 per gift donation is critical in helping with shoebox processing, shipping, and gospel materials. Learn more ￫ A step-by-step suggested presentation of the Gospel appears in the Ministry Partner Guide along with a series of two-panel posters that illustrate the text This guide fosters consistency in how the Good News is presented during Operation Christmas Child outreach events Este recurso a color de 12 lecciones permite al estudiante a seguir la historia y hacer actividades en clase o como tarea en casa este folleto de historias del Evangelio presenta a Cristo a niños y niñas y los invita a seguirlo ¡Algunos niños consideran esta pieza de su caja de regalo como su favorita En la Guía de Compañeros de Ministerio aparece una presentación del Evangelio paso a paso junto con una serie de posters de dos paneles que ilustran el texto Esta guía promueve consistencia en cómo presentar las Buenas Nuevas durante los eventos de evangelismo de Operation Christmas Child Este manual detallado ayuda a los instructores a aplicar historias Bíblicas en las vidas de sus estudiantes para animar a los niños y niñas a volverlas a contar a otros se enseñan a los maestros de La Gran Aventura a ser buenos contadores de historias que hacen preguntas a los niños para mantenerlos atentos Este método permite a las culturas analfabetas a participar y capacita a los maestros a continuar las lecciones de discipulado con sus estudiantes mucho después de que ellos hayan completado el libro de trabajo Los niños que completan las 12 lecciones reciben un certificado en la graduación Este momento oficial de su logro es un recuerdo preciado para muchos Este folleto invita a los niños a recibir el Mejor Regalo de parte de Dios—Su Hijo Jesucristo Este recurso capacita a las iglesias locales con información de cómo organizar una distribución compartir el Evangelio e invitar a niños y niñas a participar en el discipulado de seguimiento los graduados de La Gran Aventura reciben un Nuevo Testamento en su propio idioma Esta puede ser la primera copia de las Escrituras que ellos o sus familias han tenido this Gospel story booklet introduces boys and girls to Christ and invites them to follow Him Some children find this piece to be their favorite part of their shoebox gift Una donación de $6 dólares provee a un niño la oportunidad de participar en el programa de discipulado de Samaritan´s Purse, cubriendo el costo del libro del estudiante y una Biblia. Más información ￫ Únicamente al realizar tu donación en línea a través de Follow Your Box podrás descubrir el destino de tu caja de regalos Agrega una etiqueta Follow Your Box a tu caja de regalos y podrás utilizar el Buscador para conocer el país al que esta llegará con el mensaje del amor de Cristo Tu donativo de $9 nos ayuda a cubrir los costos de procesamiento de las cajas, envío y los materiales de evangelismo. Conoce más ￫ millions of shoebox gifts are collected at thousands of drop-off sites in all 50 states and Puerto Rico We are looking for companies interested in donating or discounting transportation on a state or national level or online advertising or airtime can have a tremendous impact by inspiring more individuals to pack shoebox gifts Gifts such as tickets to events or attractions can provide exciting incentives that can be used during Operation Christmas Child special promotions or contests PRAGUE (AP) — Another night of torrential rains pounding Central Europe forced mass evacuations as the death toll rose on Sunday Several Central European nations have already been hit by severe flooding while Slovakia and Hungary might come next as a result of a low pressure system from northern Italy dumping record rainfall in the region since Thursday READ MORE: After catastrophic floods, Vermont becomes first state to enact law requiring oil companies to pay for damage from climate change The floods have claimed five lives in Romania, one each in Austria and Poland. In the Czech Republic, four people who were swept away by waters were missing, police said. Most parts of the Czech Republic have been affected as authorities declared the highest flood warnings at around 100 places across the country. But the situation was worst in two northeastern regions that recorded the biggest rainfall in recent days, including the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border. In the city of Opava, up to 10,000 people out of a population of around 56,000 have been asked to leave their homes for higher ground. Rescuers used boats to transport people to safety in a neighborhood flooded by the raging Opava River. “There’s no reason to wait,” Mayor Tomáš Navrátil told Czech public radio. He said that the situation was worse than during the last devastating floods in 1997, known as the “flood of the century.” “We have to focus on saving lives,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Czech public television on Sunday. His government was set to meet Monday to assess the damages. The worst “is not behind us yet,” the prime minister warned as the flooding made its way through the country. President Petr Pavel sounded more optimistic, saying “it’s obvious we’ve learned a lesson from the previous crisis.” Thousands of others also were evacuated in the towns of Krnov, which was almost completely flooded, and Cesky Tesin. The Oder River that flows to Poland was reaching extreme levels in the city of Ostrava and in Bohumin, prompting mass evacuations. Ostrava, the regional capital is the third-largest Czech city. Its mayor, Jan Dohnal, said the city is facing major traffic disruptions in the days to come. Almost no trains were operating in the region. Towns and villages in the Jeseniky mountains, including the local center of Jesenik, were inundated and isolated by raging waters that turned roads into rivers. The military sent a helicopter to help with evacuations. Jesenik mayor Zdenka Blistanova told Czech public television that several houses in her and other nearby towns have been destroyed by the floods. A number of bridges and roads have been also badly damaged. About 260,000 households were without power Sunday morning in the entire country, while traffic was halted on many roads, including the major D1 highway. A firefighter died after “slipping on stairs” while pumping out a flooded basement in the town of Tulln, the head of the fire department of Lower Austria Dietmar Fahrafellner told reporters on Sunday. Authorities declared the entire state of Lower Austria a disaster zone, while emergency personnel have so far evacuated 1,100 houses there. “We are experiencing difficult and dramatic hours in Lower Austria. For many people in Lower Austria these will probably be the most difficult hours of their lives,” said Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of Lower Austria. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who was on his way to the disaster zone in Lower Austria, said that 2,400 soldiers were ready to support the relief effort. In Vienna, the Wien River overflowed its banks, flooding homes and forcing first evacuations of houses in the river’s proximity. Romanian authorities said Sunday that another person had died in the hard-hit eastern county of Galati after four were reported dead there a day before, following unprecedented rain. In Poland, one person was presumed dead in floods in the southwest, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Sunday. Tusk said the situation was “dramatic” around the town of Klodzko, with about 25,000 residents, located in a valley in the Sudetes mountains near the border with the Czech Republic. In Glucholazy, rising waters overflowed a river embankment and flooded streets and houses. Mayor Paweł Szymkowicz said, “we are drowning,” and appealed to residents to evacuate to high ground. Energy supplies and communications were cut off in some flooded areas, and regions may resort to using the satellite-based Starlink service, Tusk said. The weather change arrived following a hot start to September in the region. Scientists have documented Earth’s hottest summer, breaking a record set just a year ago. A hotter atmosphere, driven by human-caused climate change, can lead to more intense rainfall. Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, Philipp-Moritz Jenne and Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna, and Stephen McGrath in Sibiu, Romania, contributed to this report. By Jack Brook, Sara Cline, Associated Press Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins This live updates article has been closed. You can continue reading below for a summary of Monday's events in the widespread flooding that hit Central Europe on September 16: eastern German city prepares for storm's outcomeThe death toll caused by Storm Boris has risen to at least 16 The Czech police said three people had died and eight still remain missing The storm caused significant destruction across the affected area authorities said the death toll had risen to seven.  a man's body was found floating in the floods Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visited the affected area and thanked the Austrian emergency forces for their "impressive" work in the area Germany is expecting the River Elbe to rise to 6 meters (19.5 feet) by Wednesday. Just last week, the city of Dresden saw a main bridge collapsing into the Elbe water Europe floods: Where floodwaters recede, the cleanup startsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Floods are 'unprecedented,' meteorologist saysThe Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society in London, Liz Bentley, told DW that although flooding events are not uncommon in Central and Eastern Europe, the amount of rainfall over such a wide area was. "I think it's the sheer amount of rain that's fallen and the extent to which the area it covers is, is, well, it's unprecedented," Bentley said. The meteorologist said there were "some signals" of climate change evident. Bentley pointed to "record-breaking temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea” that had "fuelled energy from the heat" meaning more moisture was present in the air. "So typically we've seen a 10% increase in the amount of moisture that the atmosphere can hold because of human induced climate change, which means when we get these rainfall events, the rainfall is so much heavier as we've seen over recent days," Bentley said. She also pointed out that the extremes are being experienced with either too little rainfall or too much over a particular period meant that "we have to become much better at managing those famine and feast situations where there's too much rain or too little rainfall." 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Germany vows support to its flood-stricken neighborsThe German government has pledged support to countries hit by the flooding. "People in our neighboring countries, our partners in Europe and our own people need to know that we are watching the situation very closely and are ready to help," a government spokeswoman said in Berlin. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that Germany's technical relief agency THW, an organization of mostly volunteers that specializes in dealing with disasters at home and abroad, was ready "to provide immediate support when assistance is requested."   Faeser said that the THW was watching the situation closely along the Elbe and Oder rivers in Germany and was ready to step in if flooding occurred. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Poland's government earmarks millions in aid for flood victimsPolish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday announced millions in aid for those in Poland hit by flooding from Storm Boris. "At the moment we have ensured a reserve of one billion zloty (€234 million, $260 million) for places and people affected by the flood," Tusk told reporters.  Tusk called an emergency Cabinet meeting for Monday. After the meeting, he declared a state of natural disaster in the flooded areas to facilitate evacuation and rescue operations, as well as expedite financial support for the victims. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Death toll rises in PolandOfficials in Poland now say at least five people have died in the southwest of the country amid the flooding. Firefighters said on Monday they had found the body of a surgeon returning from hospital in the town of Nysa, after the bodies of two women and two men were found separately in the towns of Bielsko-Biala and Ladek-Zdroj and in two villages earlier in the day. The reports come as experts warn of flood threats in Opole, where the Oder River has reached high levels, and in the larger city of Wroclaw. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Hungary, Slovakia prepare as Danube risesFollowing the severe flooding upstream on the Danube, which flows through both Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, and the Hungarian capital of Budapest, authorities in both countries are taking measures to limit any damage. Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said the government in Budapest was focused on keeping the Danube and its tributaries within their banks. Pinter said up to 12,000 soldiers were on standby to help if needed. On Friday, the city's mayor said the river was expected to peak at around 8 meters (26 feet) later this week. Some quays in the city were to be closed on Monday. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony warned Budapest residents of the largest floods in a decade, expected to hit later this week. He cited forecasts predicting that the Danube River water would breach the capital's lower quays by Tuesday morning. Some 1 million sandbags would be deployed to protect various parts of the city, Karacsony said, urging residents to take extra care when near the river. Slovakia has also declared a state of emergency in its capital, Bratislava, since Saturday. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Flooding death toll rises to three in AustriaAustrian police have reported the deaths of two more people in the flood-struck state of Lower Austria. They said a 70-year-old man and an 80-year-old man died in their respective homes. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Flooding hits industry, retail in Central EuropeSeveral factories and stores across Central Europe have been forced to shut down production or sales on Monday owing to the widespread flooding. In the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava, the BorsodChem chemical plant has been one of those to shut, a spokesperson for the company said, according to the Reuters news agency. One of the largest producers of foundry coke in Europe, OKK Koksovny, has stopped chemicals production but was continuing to keep coking batteries at minimum levels, spokesman Jindrich Vanek told Reuters. "There is water that has started rising and there must be a breach of the flood barriers," he said. "We are without electricity and we are heating our batteries with coking gas, keeping them at technological minimum." Polish retailer Zabka meanwhile said some 80 of its outlets were currently closed, mainly in the area around the southwest town of Klodzko, according to an email sent to Reuters. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024More heavy rainfall expected in AustriaThe Donaukanal (Danube Canal) in Vienna has overflowed on some stretchesImage: Willfried Gredler-Oxenbauer/picturedesk/picture alliance More heavy downpours are expected in Austria on Monday after a weekend of flooding. Up to 60 liters of rain are forecast in the hard-hit state of Lower Austria by Tuesday, a state official said. "It is not over, it remains critical, it remains dramatic," Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner said. Even more severe rainstorms have been forecast for other parts of the country, according to public broadcaster ORF. Although water levels have receded in the capital, Vienna, which is surrounded by Lower Austria, the city is suffering great disruption to public transport, including on underground lines.  Train connections from the south and west to Vienna are also out of operation.  09/16/2024September 16, 2024Czech Republic confirms first flooding deathAt least one person is so far confirmed to have died amid severe flooding in the Czech Republic. Czech Police President Martin Vondrasek told public radio that the victim drowned in the Krasova river in the Moravian-Silesian region. Authorities have also reported several other people missing, including three thought to have been swept away in a car near the town of Jesenik. Others are believed to have fallen into rivers or other bodies of water. Prime Minister Petr Fiala has described the situation as a once-in-a-century flood. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Thousands of farms hit by floods in RomaniaParts of Romania still remain under flood alerts despite slackening rainfall. The eastern regions of Galati, Vaslui and Iasi have been particularly affected by flooding, with some 6,000 farmhouses inundated, forcing the evacuation of around 300 people.   At least six people have died in the flooding, most of them elderly, including two women aged 96 and 86. The rising waters have mostly hit remote villages, where some had to climb onto roofs to prevent being swept away. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024'Difficult and dramatic hours' in Lower AustriaThe town of Neulengbach in Lower Austria is one place badly hit by floodingImage: Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa/picture allianceAuthorities in Lower Austria have declared the entire northeastern state a disaster zone, with more than 1,000 houses evacuated and dams beginning to burst. "We are experiencing difficult and dramatic hours in Lower Austria. For many people in Lower Austria these will probably be the most difficult hours of their lives," said Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of the state. Experts say that there is a particularly dangerous situation on the Kamp River, a tributary of the Danube. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said 2,400 soldiers were ready to help with rescue and relief work across the country, with 1,000 of them deploying to Lower Austria, which surrounds the capital, Vienna. One firefighter is reported to have died in the state on Sunday while pumping out a flooded basement in the town of Tulln on the Danube.  09/16/2024September 16, 2024'Dramatic' situations in PolandKlodzko has been badly hit by floodingImage: Maciej Kulczynski/PAP/dpa/picture alliancePoland has also experienced extensive flooding, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk describing the situation around the town of Klodzko in the southwestern region of Lower Silesia as "dramatic." There, in a valley in the Sudetes mountains near the border with the Czech Republic, helicopters were used to rescue people from rooftops. Tusk called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday. The mayor of the southwestern town of Glucholazy, which is situated in the valley of the Biala River, appealed to residents to move to safety, saying, "We are drowning." A bridge in the town collapsed under the pressure of the rising waters, as streets and houses were flooded. Jelenia Gora, also in Lower Silesia, has also seen its downtown streets flooded after an embankment burst on the Bobr River.   Residents there have been warned of possible evacuations amid potential further flooding. 09/16/2024September 16, 2024Thousands evacuate homes in Czech RepublicThousands of people have been asked to leave their homes in the northeast of the Czech Republic following heavy rainfall in recent days. As many as 10,000 people out of a population of around 56,000 in the city of Opava have been asked to move to safety . "There's no reason to wait," Mayor Toma·Navratil told Czech public radio, saying that things were worse than during the inundation known as the "flood of the century" in 1997. Further evacuations have taken place in Krnov, which was almost completely flooded, as well as Cesky Tesin, Ostrava and Bohumin.  Raging waters in towns and villages in the Jeseniky mountains, including the local center of Jesenik, have also forced people out of their homes, with the military sometimes employing helicopters to take residents to safety. The mayor of the town on the Morava river, a Danube tributary, warned on social media that the water level was expected to rise further in the coming hours.   "We have to focus on saving lives," Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Czech public television on Sunday, warning that the worst "is not behind us yet." His government was set to meet Monday to assess the damage in the country. 2024At least eight dead as Central Europe battles severe floodingWide regions in Austria Poland and Romania have been inundated after days of heavy rainfall while Slovakia and Hungary are possibly also facing flooding in the coming days Six people have died in Romania and one each in Austria and Poland as rivers broke their banks Tens of thousands of people have evacuated their homes with the northeast of the Czech Republic and the northeastern Austrian state of Lower Austria particularly affected with the level of the Elbe river expected to peak on Tuesday afternoon at 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) in Schöna That measurement would trigger the highest alarm level in the area and the state flood center said dams could overflow or break with catastrophic effect Authorities there will set up mobile barriers on Monday to protect the historic city center Experts say that the Earth's hotter atmosphere as a result of human-caused climate change is making such extreme weather events more likely Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor Another night of torrential rains pounding Central Europe have forced massive evacuations in the hardest hit areas in the Czech Republic PRAGUE — Another night of torrential rains pounding Central Europe forced massive evacuations in the hardest hit areas in the Czech Republic where floods reached extreme levels on Sunday Meteorologists have warned the situation still might get worse as waters in most rivers are rising the flood wave made its way through the country and more heavy rains could return overnight Authorities declared the highest flood warnings in almost 90 places across the country and in two northeastern regions that recorded the biggest rainfall in recent days including the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border up to 10,000 people out of the population of some 56,000 have been asked to leave their homes for higher ground Rescuers used boats to transport people to safety in a neighbourhood flooded by the raging Opava River “There’s no reason to wait,” Mayor Tomáš Navrátil told the Czech public radio He said the situation was worse than during the last devastating floods in 1997 Thousands of others also were evacuated in the towns of Krnov and Cesky Tesin The Oder River that flows to Poland was expected to reach extreme levels in the city of Ostrava and later in Bohumin Towns and villages in the Jeseniky mountains were inundated and isolated by raging waters that turned roads to rivers The military was sending a helicopter to help with evacuations Four people who were swept away by waters were missing About 260,000 households were without power Sunday morning in the entire country while traffic was halted on many roads one person was presumed dead in floods in the southwest Tusk said the situation was “dramatic” around the town of Klodzko located in a valley in the Sudetes mountains near the border with the Czech Republic rising waters overflowed a river embankment and flooded streets and houses Mayor Paweł Szymkowicz said “we are drowning” and appealed to residents to evacuate to high ground Energy supplies and communications were cut off in some flooded areas and regions may resort to using the satellite-based Starlink service Several Central European nations have been hit by severe flooding, including Romania, where four people had died in floods, as well as Austria as a result of a low pressure system from northern Italy was dumping heavy rainfall in the wide region The weather change arrived following a hot start to September in the region, including in Romania. Scientists have documented Earth’s hottest summer A hotter atmosphere, driven by human-caused climate change Associated Press writer Monika Scislowska in Warsaw The 2024 Central European floods in the Czech Republic were caused by Storm Boris which brought record rainfall beginning on 13 September 2024 The rain totals in parts of Jeseník exceeded 500 mm (20 inches) leading to the destruction of homes and infrastructure and approximately 250,000 were left without electricity The situation remains critical in parts of the South Bohemian Region where ongoing threats of further flooding persist along with widespread displacement of about 10,000 residents The Czech Red Cross (CRC) currently operates in evacuation centers assisting with evacuation efforts and supporting those in need Teams are also helping construct flood protection measures and have initiated monitoring of immediate needs Nine regional branches are fully mobilized to support operations An Emergency Operations Centre has been established at the CRC headquarters and local branch posts are being set up in the hardest-hit areas to streamline response efforts Psychosocial Support (PSS) activities are underway in areas with ongoing evacuations addressing affected individuals' immediate emotional and psychological needs including Prague and the Vltava and Labe rivers The floods led to 17 fatalities and caused approximately USD 3 billion (CHF 2.79 billion) in damages severely impacting historical infrastructure in the capital The event exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s flood defenses the 2024 floods were triggered by Cyclone Boris and exacerbated by climate change with extreme weather becoming more frequent This event primarily affected Moravia and parts of Bohemia While so far fewer people were impacted—around 10,000 evacuations and 17,000 severely affected—the floods caused significant damage to infrastructure Infrastructure has suffered significant damage with bridges being swept away and at least 250,000 customers experiencing power cuts and more impacted areas are becoming accessible Czech Republic requested assistance from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) through dehumidifiers the situation in the Czech Republic is gradually improving the Elbe River has receded from a peak of 613 cm to 581 cm with expectations that it will soon fall below the third flood alert level While the lower sections of the Morava and Elbe rivers remain above the third flood level 55 locations still have flood warnings in place with particular concern around the Lužnice River water levels have surpassed the fifty-year flood mark and the river remains at extreme flood threat levels while conditions on the Nežárka River are stabilizing with gradually falling water levels Recovery efforts have begun in some of the affected regions A devastating trail of destruction has already been left behind but other areas of the continent are preparing for the floods to reach them it was the Czech Republic and Poland that were hit hardest Heavy rainfall that has been occurring since last week led to bridges collapsing cars and homes being damaged and people being evacuated that number is expected to rise once they are able to start clearing out some of the damages A state of natural disaster has been announced by the Polish government and 1 billion zlotys ($260 million) have been set aside to help the victims impacted has been in touch with the European Union seeking additional aid “We need bottled water and dry provisions... half of the city has no electricity,” the Mayor of Klodzko, a Polish town, Michal Piszko told Polish radio via Reuters on NBC News Piszko did provide some positive news that waters were receding but plenty of help was still needed Mud and debris could be seen on new telecasts throughout the streets of Klodzko a hospital had to be evacuated and people were transported out in rafts “There were two metres of water that ran through the street.. many destroyed cars,” said Jesenik resident Zdenek Kuzilek where clean-ups started and started to reveal the extent of the damage “If you were here you would cry instantly because people are desperate.. there were people who were left with just the clothes they had on.” Hungary is preparing for things coming their way and 12,000 soldiers have been put on standby to help Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter revealed their main efforts will be not allowing rivers and tributaries to breach their banks Austria saw a reprieve overnight with rain easing up a second wave with heavier rain is anticipated which will create more destruction Storm Boris has caused several deaths, and thousands have been evacuated from their homes across Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia Photograph: Daniel Mihăilescu/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock Photograph: Tomáš Benedikovič/AFP/Getty Images This website is using a security service to protect itself from 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Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 20242:51 PM UTCIn pictures: Historic flooding hits central EuropeThe death toll from the worst flooding central Europe has seen in at least two decades rose as authorities in some areas counted the cost of the destruction while others prepared for the crisis to reach them [2/50]A man carries out an armchair while tidying up an apartment in the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [3/50]A woman walks near a destroyed car in the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [6/50]A woman walks near a destroyed car during the aftermath of flooding by the Biala Ladecka River in Ladek Zdroj [8/50]Soldiers carry sandbags to strengthen the dam along the river Danube in Pilismarot [9/50]Soldiers carry sandbags to strengthen the dam along the river Danube in Pilismarot [10/50]A person looks at floodwaters following heavy rainfalls in Bela pod Pradedem [11/50]A view of a destroyed house in the aftermath of flooding following heavy rainfalls [12/50]A man walks next to a damaged vehicle in the aftermath of flooding following heavy rainfalls [13/50]A general view was taken by drone of a courtyard area flooded by Nysa Klodzka river in Nysa [14/50]A man drinks as he stands next to a house damaged by floods [15/50]Locals and rescuers pull a man through flood water after heavy rain triggered flooding in Slobozia Conachi Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERSSLOBOZIA CONACHI [16/50]People rest in an evacuation center [18/50]Firefighters walk between sandbags as authorities prepare for a dam break and severe flooding in Hadersdorf [20/50]A man shovels as he stands in floodwater at a flooded area More in this CollectionSee all picturesItem 21 of 50 A person stands beside an overturned vehicle following heavy rainfalls in Bela pod Pradedem REUTERS/David W Cerny[21/50]A person stands beside an overturned vehicle © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved a police official said.Slovakia's capital Bratislava and the Hungarian capital Budapest were both preparing for possible flooding as the River Danube rose.Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said efforts were focused on keeping the river and its tributaries within their banks and said up to 12,000 soldiers were on standby to help.In Austria the levels of rivers and reservoirs fell overnight as rain eased but officials said they were bracing for a second wave as heavier rain was expected.($1 = 3.8398 zlotys)(This story has been refiled to add a dropped last name in the byline)Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in Prague Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than in Budapest Writing by Jason Hovet and Alan Charlish; Editing by Angus MacSwan Orion180 recently announced the promotion of Ryan Jesenik to chief operating officer he will oversee business operations of the organization which is a homeowners' insurance provider leveraging advanced technology to serve independent insurance agents in the Southeastern United States Jesenik joined Orion180 in January 2020 as senior vice president responsible for sales working with company founder and Chief Executive Officer Ken Gregg to execute the vision and growth of the company The company said Jesenik’s transformative operational business strategy and tactical execution have been instrumental with the company’s significant growth the company has continued to execute on its business plan while expanding its geographical footprint The company continues to experience high growth with a 303% year-over-year increase in 2021 and will exceed $150 million written premiums in 2022 Jesenik also helped design and launch Orion180’s Star Outreach program which commits a portion of every policy proceeds directly to charities selected by Orion180 agency partners The program donated more than $160,000 to various charities in 2021 Jesenik will continue to support Gregg with the development and implementation of organizational strategies while ensuring the company’s culture maintains its high standards and it provides its employees with a thriving and nurturing work environment Jesenik will manage the business analytics territory aggregate capacity management and the profile of the policies in force “Ryan came to Orion180 with an extensive track record of success," Gregg said. "His ability as an operator is evidenced in how he has helped our company grow three to four times each year He has been instrumental in growing the organization to over 65 full-time staff serving more than 50,000 policyholders with an expanded distribution across the Southeast." Gregg said Jesenik's “talent and dedication have had a tremendous impact on our company I am confident he will continue grow with and play a significant role in Orion180 meeting its aggressive milestones and vision.” Jesenik worked and consulted for multiple growth-stage companies Jesenik spent five years at several aerospace manufacturing companies including the majority at Precision Castparts a Fortune 500 company purchased by Berkshire Hathaway in 2015 Jesenik recently was named Young Professional of the Year by the Melbourne Regional Chamber which is given to a young professional who through dedication to the chamber and broader community has made a significant impact on the Space Coast community For more information about the Star Outreach Program visit https://www.orion180.com/community-involvement/ Sara Hawks Houston recently took over the State Farm agency on Merritt Island which at one time had been run by her father Houston opened a Viera State Farm Agency in April 2017 at 1950 Viera Blvd. The Merritt Island operation is located at 2255 N Courtenay Parkway, Unit 3,  next door to where her father’s agency was once located More: Business newsmakers: Neal named president of MEC Contractors-Engineers More: Business newsmakers: Doaks named director of Elevate Brevard Prior to getting in the insurance business Houston was a pharmaceutical sales representative Houston is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where she majored in business and marketing Both of Houston's State Farm locations are hiring for various positions To find out more about employment opportunities contact Elise Sheck at sara@hawks-houstoninsurance.com or call 321-425-5444 Women’s professional group honors drag racer LarsenThe Oceanside charter chapter of the American Business Women’s Association has awarded Elaine Larsen its 2022 “Making a Difference” award Larsen is the driver of the Florida Tech Generation 6 jet dragster Larsen also is the creator of four “Blaze” comic books which were inspired by real-life experiences Florida Tech’s Jet Dragster is 27 feet long and can produce about 5,000 pounds of thrust It can reach speeds of 280 miles per hour in about 5 seconds Larsen used it to win The International Hot Road Association championship in 2014 where she talks about her 20th year in drag racing and "Two Decades of Thrills: Full Throttle Tour" this year she is stepping down as the primary driver for Larsen Motorsports She will assume a more prominent leadership role within the Larsen Motorsports company and Blazing Trails the 501(c)(3) nonprofit she founded to connect students to STEAM education If you have a Business Newsmakers item you'd like to publish Price at wtpkansas@yahoo.com or contact him at 321-223-0230.  The floods have already killed seven people in Romania and one in Austria killing several people in Poland and the Czech Republic Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a state of natural disaster in the flooded areas to facilitate evacuation and rescue operations as well as expedite financial support for the victims Mr Tusk told a news conference that the Finance Ministry has so far earmarked one billion zlotys (£197,000) for immediate payouts damaged bridges and some burst dams and embankments Schools and offices in the affected areas were closed on Monday and drinking water and food were being delivered by trucks have called for food donations for flood survivors Experts are warning of a flood threat in Opole where the Oder River has reached high levels and started bursting its banks at some points Concerns have also been raised in the city of Wroclaw where the flooding was expected on Wednesday The city suffered a disastrous flood in 1997 and the trauma is still present there The number of flood victims in southwestern Poland rose to five after the body of a surgeon returning from hospital duty was found in the town of Nysa on Monday morning the bodies of two women and two men were found in the towns of Bielsko-Biala and Ladek-Zdroj Police in the Czech Republic said that one woman drowned in the north east which has been pounded by record rainfall since Thursday Czech authorities declared a state of emergency in two northeastern regions including in the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border A number of towns and cities were submerged on Sunday in the north east Military helicopters joined rescuers on boats in efforts to transport people to safety Waters were receding from the mountainous areas on Monday leaving behind destroyed houses and bridges and damaged roads conditions were expected to improve on Monday Floods moving towards the southeastern Czech Republic inundated the town of Litovel while the Oder River flooded parts of the city of Ostrava at the confluence with the Opava River forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people on Monday after a natural dam broke Firefighters and others were working to fix the problem Most people were without hot water and heating in the city Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited the town of Jesenik and now we have to deal with all the damage,” Mr Fiala said following the visit it might impact Slovakia and Hungary next as a result of a low-pressure system from northern Italy that has been dumping record rainfall in the region since Thursday the mayor of Budapest warned residents that the largest floods in a decade were expected to hit the capital later in the week with the waters of the Danube River set to breach the city’s lower quays by Tuesday morning Prime Minister Viktor Orban cancelled his planned foreign engagements including an address to a plenary session of the European Parliament on Wednesday where heated debates were expected over his conduct since Hungary took over the European Union’s rotating presidency in July “Until we reach the peak and get past the worst of it Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony wrote on Facebook that the city would use one million sandbags to bolster flood defences and asked residents to take extra care when near the river The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission duration and intensity are likely to exert major control on process activity at the study site single-day threshold defined by Obdržálková (1992) seems reasonable at first sight and for widespread landslide reactivations whereas more isolated landslides are more likely initiated by localised short-duration rainstorms (Tichavský et al. without delivering enough water to activate larger portions of landslide bodies or 1997 were probably triggered by long-term advective rainfalls (as demonstrated in the case of the 1997 calamity; Kirchner and Krejčí All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Landesweit galt an mehr als 120 Pegel-Messstationen die höchste Hochwasser-Alarmstufe Nach heftigen Regenfällen und Sturmböen sind die Straßen der Kleinstadt Glucholazy im Süden Polens überflutet: »Wir gehen unter« sagte der Bürgermeister und rief die Einwohner auf Tausende Menschen mussten evakuiert werden Glucholazy aus der Luft: Ein Zentrum steht unter Wasser den Hund an der Leine: Eine Familie flieht in Glucholazy vor dem Hochwasser das aus dem Fluss Biala kommt und die Wälle und Dämme in zwei Städten überflutet Evakuierung per Boot: Einwohner des polnischen Ortes Rudawa im Süden Polens werden aus ihren Häusern geholt Im Südwesten des Landes war am Nachmittag ein Staudamm gebrochen Auch der Ort Jawiszowice in Polen ist kaum noch sichtbar Polens Regierungschef Donald Tusk sagte den von der Flut geschädigten Bürgern finanzielle Hilfen zu Seine Regierung werde dazu auch Unterstützung bei der EU beantragen Gräber unter Wasser: Ein überfluteter Friedhof im polnischen Brzeszcze Panzer rollen durch Nysa: Die Behörden haben die Armee um Hilfe gerufen Reißende Wogen voller Schlamm: Der Nebenfluss der Oder habe bei Klodzko einen Pegelstand von 6,84 Meter Üblich sei ein durchschnittlicher Wasserstand von etwa einem Meter Lukasz Cynalewski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl / REUTERS Auch in Tschechien gibt es heftige Überschwemmungen: Hier ein Blick auf die Elbe in Spindlermühle Besonders dramatisch ist die Situation in der tschechischen Stadt Krnov Der stellvertretende Bürgermeister Miroslav Binar sagte der Agentur CTK zufolge dass geschätzt 70 bis 80 Prozent des Stadtgebiets unter Wasser stünden Der Fluss Bela in Jesenik: An mehr als 50 Stationen wurde ein Jahrhunderthochwasser gemeldet um Menschen aus ihren Häusern zu evakuieren Die Regierung in Prag will am Montag zusammenkommen um über außerordentliche finanzielle Hilfen für Betroffene zu entscheiden Der tschechische Präsident Petr Pavel rief zu Spenden für die Hochwasser-Opfer auf dass die am stärksten betroffenen Gebiete wie um Jesenik im Altvatergebirge und Frydlant in Nordböhmen zugleich einige der ärmsten Regionen des Landes seien Heftige Regenfälle lassen die Talsperre im tschechischen Husinec (Böhmerwald) überlaufen: Die darunter liegenden Gemeinden entlang der Blanice konnten frühzeitig gewarnt werden Nach dem Sturm: Umgestürzte Bäume in der Nähe des tschechischen Dorfes Èuèice Das überflutete Stadtzentrum im tschechischen Freiwaldau Aufwischen nach der Flut: Diese Kirche im rumänischen Dorf Pechea stand nach den heftigen Regenfällen und Stürmen unter Wasser In Rumänien sind mindestens sechs Menschen ums Leben gekommen wurde nicht verschont: In der südöstlichen Region Galati standen Menschen bis zum Oberkörper im Wasser Hunderte mussten im ganzen Land aus den Fluten gerettet werden insgesamt waren fast 6000 Haushalte betroffen Präsident Klaus Iohannis sprach von »dramatischen Folgen« des Klimawandels In vielen Hochwassergebieten Österreichs ist noch keine Entspannung in Sicht »Die Lage in Niederösterreich spitzt sich weiter zu« sagte Bundeskanzler Karl Nehammer nach einer Sitzung des nationalen Krisenstabes Wenn aus dem fast randvollen Ottenstein-Stausee größere Wassermengen durch die Flutklappen schießen könnte es im Unterlauf des bereits stark angeschwollenen Kamp zu erheblichem Hochwasser kommen Schutzmaßnahmen in Wien: Einsatzkräfte bauen auf den Gleisen der U4 bei der Pilgramgasse eine Hochwasserschutzmauer auf Bei Auspump-Arbeiten kam ein Feuerwehrmann in Österreich am Sonntag ums Leben Die Donau ist in Passau über die Ufer getreten: Einige Bereiche der Altstadt stehen bereits im Hochwasser Am Sonntag war die Lage in Deutschland insgesamt noch weitgehend entspannt aber in einigen Orten galten erste Alarmstufen Teile Süd- und Ostdeutschlands bereiteten sich auf steigendes Hochwasser vor Steigende Pegel in Dresden: Erste Flächen des Elbufers sind auf der Neustädter Seite gegenüber der historischen Altstadtkulisse vom Wasser der Elbe überflutet Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker which the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Science was involved in its research is on display until mid-January in the museum in the building of the former regional court in Javorník The 3,000-year-old artifact was discovered by a random passer-by near Stará Červená Voda in the Jeseníky region in 2020 a resident of Stará Červená Voda contacted the staff of the Museum of National History in Jeseník saying that he had found a bronze sword and an axe Both items date back to approximately 1300 years BCE It was examined by experts from several workplaces throughout the Czech Republic The Department of Analytical Chemistry was invited to participate shortly after the discovery “The sword was encased in clay and was not contaminated or damaged in any way so we were able to take several samples from the microscopic areas The substances identified showed the presence of cellulose which means that the sword was probably stored in some kind of plant fiber textile we did not find any other organic substances which would indicate its practical use,” said Lukáš Kučera from the Department of Analytical Chemistry The soil samples were also sent for study to the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Telč They confirmed that the samples taken were consistent with the microscopic particles on the surface of the sword and that the find came from the place of destination the sword and the axe will be relocated to the Water Fortress in Jeseník where the Jeseník Museum of National History is housed We use cookies and any other network identifiers on our website that may contain personal data (e.g We and some of the service providers we use have access to or store this data on your device This data helps us to operate and improve our services your consent is required to process data collected in this way You can change or revoke your consent at any time (see the link at the bottom the page) Read more  My NewsSign Out Sign InCreate your free profileSections news Alerts Flooding in Kunin, Czech Republic, left this car on a castle garden on Thursday, June 25. The Odra River in Jesenik nad Odrou, Czech Republic, overflows its banks on Thursday. Two residents of St. Leonard am Forst, Austria, clean their belongings Thursday after severe flooding in the town about 60 miles southwest of Vienna. Flood debris is cleaned up in Emmersdorf, Austria, on Thursday. The Melk Abbey is seen in the background. A woman in Jesenik nad Odrou, Czech Republic, cries Thursday after learning that her six horses drowned in overnight flooding. Residents of Jesenik nad Odrou dry out their soaked belongings on Thursday. Rescuers evacuate a woman from her flooded house in Jesenik nad Odrou on Thursday. Residents of Hatzendorf, Austria, clean up Thursday. Hungary also saw flooding, including this scene Wednesday in the town of Koeszeg. Crews deploy sandbags in the center of Hatzendorf, Austria, on Wednesday. A house is mirrored in the flooded streets of Weissenkirchen, Austria, on Wednesday. Heavy rain caused street flooding in Nis, Serbia, on Wednesday. Raging floodwaters cut through Steyr, Austria, on Wednesday. Sandbags protected this building in Melk, Austria, on Wednesday. The Jeseníky mountains in the Olomouc region of the Czech Republic recorded the first snowfall of the 2020-21 season on Sunday night and into Monday morning. Snowfall was so heavy in the area that roads in the area had to be closed this morning. Due to poor conditions, the I/44 road by the Červenohorské sedlo mountains, the primary road between the towns of Jeseník and Šumperk, was temporarily closed this morning. It had re-opened by noon. View this post on Instagram Červenohorské sedlo aktuálně #Jeseníky A post shared by Leoš Mareš (@leosmares) on Oct 11 "There are three centimeters [of snow] on the Červenohorské sedlo mountains in the highest places this is the first snowfall of the year there," a dispatcher from the Šumperk road administration told iDnes.cz this morning "It's raining [at the base of the mountains] it's a relatively early snowfall for this year "Four years ago, I remember that the snow fell on October 5, but it was not so much," Ondřej Škovránek from the Jeseník Mountain Rescue Service told iDnes.cz "According to the experience of colleagues at that time it was not possible to drive without clearing the roads." Škovránek estimates that more than ten centimeters of snow fell in the area overnight the Jeseníky mountains aren't the site of the first snowfall in the Czech Republic this year reported some heavy snowfall two weeks prior The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has forecast snow for mountain ranges across the Czech Republic this week temperatures are forecast to dip throughout the week Daytime highs are predicted to be in the range of 8-12 °C Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English.