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Flood protection with mobile dams

Upper Tisza River Region is frequently and heavily flooded and has sudden torrents and rainfalls. In a pilot project, the National Directorate General of Disaster Management will purchase and test a mobile dike system that can serve as a rapid response, cost efficient and environmental friendly device. As this system is under certain conditions faster available than conventional flood protection with sandbags, precious time can be gained to protect the inhabitants, property and goods.
Theme/Focus Area
Security/ Stability/ Reforms
Natural Disaster Management
Target Group
180’000 inhabitants in Northern Hungary, especially along the Upper Tisza River Region and its catchment area in the north Great Plains
Context
The Upper Tisza Region is regularly hit by floods. Flood prevention measures are complemented by natural disasters response actions to contain floodwaters temporarily within a river's embankment and/or providing temporary protection for objects in floodplains. Conventionally sandbags are used, that are kept in storage rooms of municipalities potentially affected by flooding or at the disaster management units. Sandbags are cheap to purchase, however, it takes a lot of time and manpower to fill the sandbags and after usage they have to be disposed of.

Hungarian registration number: SH 2/2/3
Goals
The goal is to reduce the vulnerability of North-East Hungary in case of extreme weather conditions. For this purpose, new rapid flood response actions reduce the time necessary to protect inhabitants and property as well as material goods.
Activities
The Executing Agency will purchase, install and use a mobile dam system. This purchase of equipment will be accompanied by trainings for the local civil defense units and the staff of the regional disaster management directorates. The project is conceived as a pilot – if the system proves to be successful, additional purchase of mobile dikes is planned.
Results
The expected results are:

  • Purchased mobile dike system (total length 10.5 km);
  • 195 instructed and trained persons in the use of the mobile dikes;
  • Utilized and tested mobile dikes in flood response actions;
  • Carried out ex-post analysis of the utilization of the mobile dikes as a basis for future purchases.

Additional Information and Documents

Documents
  • Annual Report 2011 SECO/SDC on Switzerland's contribution to EU enlargement
    Download (PDF, 6835 KB) :  [de]   [en]   [fr]   [it]  

Internal Links
Key data of the project
Country:
Hungary Hungary
Amount of the Swiss grant:
CHF 3'007'097
Total budget of the project:
CHF 3'537'762
Date of grant approval:
16.05.2012
Status:
ongoing
Responsibility for project implementation:
Swiss contact:
Project number: 7F-08205.01