Radenthein to get disaster protection centre for Spittal district

Radenthein is building a disaster protection centre for the Spittal an der Drau district, ORF reported Thursday. The state of Carinthia is investing one million euros in the building and 1.6 million euros in equipment.

The disaster protection warehouse is being built next to the existing municipal emergency centre and is scheduled for completion by December. It will store pumps, tools, a telescopic loader, a hook lift for transporting roll-off containers and mobile flood protection barriers.

The Radenthein municipal emergency centre opened in April. It brings the fire service, mountain rescue, municipal works department and an intermunicipal recycling centre together at one location.

Spittal district fire chief Kurt Schober said recent disaster operations had shown the need for a disaster protection facility in Upper Carinthia. During a major operation in 2020, equipment had to be brought from Klagenfurt, while another incident was also taking place elsewhere in the district.

Carinthia Governor and disaster protection official Daniel Fellner said changing climate conditions made the investment necessary, pointing to prolonged droughts followed by heavy rainfall that can lead to disasters.