Many areas of application

Record efforts for protection against natural hazards

Roads were torn away during a flood in Ötztal last year.

(Bild: ZOOM.TIROL)

Whether avalanches, mudslides, floods or storms. Numerous natural hazards lurk in Tyrol. The expenditure for the safety of settlement areas and for protective forests is enormous. This year they have reached a new record level. Where investments are being made and why experts expect costs to continue to rise.

Floods in Ötztal and the Stubai Valley, storm damage across Tyrol, mudflows - 2023 was characterized by numerous natural disasters. Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV) alone recorded 121 damage events with costs of 5.1 million euros for emergency measures. Following the floods, a total of eleven million euros was spent on immediately necessary protective measures in the previous year. Representatives from the state and the torrent and avalanche control authority presented all of this at a press conference on Friday.

We have to act quickly so that roads are clear again and families can return to their homes.

Gebhard Walter, Wildbach- und Lawinenverbauung

More than 100 million euros invested for the first time
The message: the effort will continue to increase. This year, more than 100 million euros will be invested in protection against natural hazards in Tyrol for the first time. "Because many buildings need to be renovated. Because new protection measures are necessary. Because construction costs are rising, as are safety standards and the demands of society," says LHStv. Josef Geisler (ÖVP), summarizing some of the reasons. The experts also anticipate an increase in small and large-scale natural events - as they are called in technical jargon. Climate change is cited as one reason.

Mudslides usually cause enormous damage. The picture shows the Hahntennjoch road in August 2023.

(Bild: Land Tirol)

Major projects are planned in all districts
What is planned for this year? Markus Federspiel, head of the provincial water protection department, lists 75 construction projects for flood protection alone. These include protection measures already started on the Isel near Lienz, a project on the Lech near Reutte-Lüß, projects around the new stone bridge in Schwaz and flood protection on the Haselbach near Waidring and St. Ulrich.

The enormous forest damage caused by storms and bark beetles is a huge challenge.

Josef Fuchs, Landesforstdirektor für Tirol

This year, the torrent and avalanche control team will be working in Galtür (Predigtberg avalanche), Innsbruck (Allerheiligenhof avalanche), in the Zillertal (Riedbach) and in Söll (Stampfangerbach). The section head responsible for Tyrol, Gebhard Walter, speaks of 50 million euros in investments.

Huge areas of forest were destroyed by storms.

(Bild: Thurner Claudia)

600,000 solid cubic meters of damaged timber fell in Tyrol.

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Forest damage particularly high in recent years
Reforestation after storms and the fight against the bark beetle are the focus of the Provincial Forestry Directorate. Director Josef Fuchs refers to "600,000 solid cubic meters of damaged wood due to storm damage last year alone". East Tyrol with its massive bark beetle plague is a priority area.