Annual Report: Floods 2024 Challenged the Red Cross in Lower Austria
There was a slight decline in the number of services in the rescue and medical services, but more people were cared for in the health and social sectors. The number of volunteer staff remained consistently over 18,000. General praise came from the political side.
Political Recognition for Flood Relief
Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) emphasized in St. Pölten that the Red Cross had "an incredible amount to do" during the flood disaster. Assistance was needed in rescue operations, accommodations, crisis intervention, and catering, which well demonstrated the organization's "comprehensive field of activity."
Hans Ebner, President of the Red Cross of Lower Austria, also highlighted the extensive services and the "enormous willingness to help" during the flood disaster. "All this alongside the regular rescue service and other services," said Ebner. "The flood goes, the Red Cross remains," the president emphasized regarding the other areas of the emergency organization.
Flood Last Year Was the Most Defining Event for Red Cross in Lower Austria
In the rescue and medical services, exactly 925,516 people were cared for in 2024 (2023: 969,275). There was an increase in the number of people cared for in the field of health and social services from 234,202 to 289,909. Specifically, rescue service trips are still above the level that prevailed before the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Health Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ). At the same time, the pool of volunteers is stable but slightly declining (18,721 people compared to 18,743 the previous year). Overall, this results in a "personnel and financial challenge" that must also be considered in the future.
From Ebner's perspective, the tele-emergency doctor project, which was launched into 24-hour operation on September 1, 2024, has resulted in high efficiency. The system has already been adopted in Upper Austria, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg. The goal is for non-medical rescue service personnel at the scene to be able to integrate the tele-emergency doctor into the ongoing care process in real-time at any time.
(APA/Red)
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