Reminder of the 2018 flood: Info point opened in Treßdorf!

Reminder of the 2018 flood: Info point opened in Treßdorf!

On September 12, 2025, a solemn moment took place in Treßdorf an der Gail to commemorate the devastating flood events of October 2018. On this day, a new information point was opened to inform citizens and visitors about the events and the important topic of flood protection. Mayor Markus Salcher and numerous guests of honor, including State Councilor Daniel Fellner, Stefan Schober from Wasserbau Kärnten, as well as representatives from the municipality and the hydraulic engineering authority, took part in the celebrations. The students from Kirchbach elementary school and the Alpenrose Waidegg brass group provided the musical accompaniment to the event.

A look back shows how dramatic the events were at the end of October 2018. The meteorological background was a low pressure area over the Mediterranean that brought cold air masses, resulting in intense rainfall in the region. Within just a few days, between 300 and 400 mm of rain fell in flood areas such as Villach and East Tyrol, which led to massive flooding and dam failures, as the streets of the market town of Kirchbach document. The Reisach Gail Bridge and the Unterdöbernitz Gail Bridge were particularly affected, and their destruction had a major impact on the infrastructure.

The info point as a reminder

During the opening of the information point, Frank was also held accountable for the damage that had occurred in the region. The market town of Kirchbach had to build new bridges, which caused total costs of over 2.1 million euros. State Councilor Fellner reported financial support, including 600,000 euros from the state and 650,000 euros from a regional fund loan. The disaster fund also covered 50 percent of the bridge costs. These measures show the common solidarity and strength that the community and country can develop in such difficult times.

The newly established information point, which was launched in 2024 by the Hermagor water management company and the market town of Kirchbach, uses bent steel girders from the former Unterdöbernitz Gail Bridge as a memorial and source of information. The aim is to promote awareness of flood protection and the transfer of knowledge. Guests of honor such as Hannes Poglitsch emphasized the importance of hazard awareness and preventative measures to minimize future damage.

A lasting sign for the future

At the same time, the information point also plays an important role in keeping the memory of the flood alive. “It is a place of encounter and remembrance,” said Stefan Schober. The activities and the personal speech of the guests of honor are intended not only to reflect on the shocking events, but also to encourage everyone to reflect on their own behavior and how they deal with the forces of nature. As Regional Councilor Fellner summarized, water has the power to give life as well as to cause great devastation. It is up to us to embrace these lessons and learn from each other to be better prepared for the future.