newsletter_2008_1.pdf - 5.84 MB - The Baltic Sea Project
newsletter_2008_1.pdf - 5.84 MB - The Baltic Sea Project
newsletter_2008_1.pdf - 5.84 MB - The Baltic Sea Project
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Floods at<br />
the <strong>Sea</strong>side<br />
We’ve almost forgotten what snow looks like. Is it just<br />
Mother Nature’s trick or a sign of global warming? For several<br />
years in a row now, winters in Lithuania have hardly<br />
resembled the winters that our parents remember. <strong>The</strong><br />
warming trends are evidenced by various natural disasters<br />
occurring around the world. In Lithuania, this means<br />
floods.<br />
Spring floods cause numerous problems for the people<br />
living by the delta of River Nemunas. Floods occur due<br />
to excess ice blocking Nemunas riverbed, whereupon an<br />
abundance of water spreads to meadows and forests and<br />
covers vast areas. <strong>The</strong> spreading water and ice damage riverbanks,<br />
flood villages, and destroy roads. Most residents<br />
in these areas are able to reach land only by boat or special<br />
transport. <strong>The</strong> floods cause serious damage every year.<br />
In early February this year, the water level on the Šilutė–<br />
Rusnė road reached 37 cm. Rescue teams lift vehicles using<br />
tractors along the 400 metres of flooded road. Curious<br />
sightseers from numerous Lithuanian cities and villages<br />
come here to see the terrible flood, yet the locals will certainly<br />
say that the flood is fine and expected.<br />
Old local residents know how to prepare for floods. A boat<br />
is tied next to each farmstead. Food stock and fodder are<br />
stored in a safe place. Cattle are kept in special mounted<br />
sheds.<br />
Šilutė fire protection rescue service is very busy during<br />
floods. It undertakes extraordinary measures in order to<br />
save people and their property. An amphibious vehicle is<br />
used to evacuate people from their flooded homes. Where<br />
needed, the rescue service ensures urgent delivery of doctors<br />
to the flooded area.<br />
vARIA<br />
Photos: author<br />
<strong>The</strong> only solution that would help to reduce the damage<br />
incurred by residents from the floods to Rusnė Island is an<br />
overpass above the road range that is so often flooded.<br />
<strong>The</strong> overpass would help to solve the problem of communication<br />
with Rusnė.<br />
Violeta Lukočienė<br />
Teacher<br />
Šilutė primary school, Lietuvininkų str. 38, Šilutė, Lithuania<br />
E-mail: violetaluk@nkm.lt<br />
33
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