12 temporary accommodation centers were prepared for the period of spring flood in Kazan

(KZN.RU, March 4, Alina Berezhnaya). Preparations for the spring flood started in Kazan. It is forecasted the capital of the RT in the first half of April. Ferdinant Timurkhanov, the head of the Civil Protection Directorate, told about the readiness of the city today at the Business Monday.

F. Timurkhanov reported that the height of snow cover on average in Kazan is 68 cm, which is 23% more than the average annual number. The depth of soil freezing varies from 25 to 42 cm, while its average annual number is 57 cm. He added that more than 700 thousand tons of snow had already been removed from the highways, roads, and pavements of Kazan during the 2018-2019 season. “The central part of the city will be cleared of snow in a matter of days with good warm weather”, noted F. Timurkhanov. “The experience of previous years shows that the central part of the city, industrial enterprises, and social facilities do not fall into the flood zone”. The main risks are in residential areas located in the lowlands and along the banks of small rivers in the city since the bulk of the remaining snow during melting falls into the small rivers Kazanka, Kinderka, Vertlevka, Noksa, and Sukhaya. He also added that with alternation of positive and negative air temperatures, a favorable flood course is predicted. Flooding of lowland areas is possible during sudden and steady warming of the temperature.

 According to the speaker, the settlement Druzhba, Severny, Sukhaya Reka, Kalinina, Igumnovo, Yagodnaya Sloboda, Zalesny, Admiralteiskaya Sloboda, Krasnaya Gorka, Levchenko are in the flood zone. Also, residential areas Pervomaisky, Ametievo, Boriskovo, Mirny, Konstantinovka, Salmachi, and Vishnevka are in the risk zone.

F. Timurkhanov spoke about preventive measures that are aimed at preventing dangerous flooding and have been held since last fall. He noted that 3 km of drainage ditches have been updated in the city, bulk barriers to meltwater have been created and clearing of small rivers has been done. Currently, an inspection of pumping equipment and cleaning of storm sewage networks is carried out in the underground passages. In total, 150 emergency squads, 137 units of equipment, 147 pumps, 2370 sandbags, and 810 ladders were prepared for quick response under flood conditions. In addition, 12 temporary accommodation centers with a capacity of 2910 people have been prepared.

The city flood control commission, operational groups of district administrations and the Office of Civil Protection is on round-the-clock duty during the spring flood. It is planned to strengthen the on-call and dispatch services of the city’s life support organizations and the unified dispatch service, as well as to strengthen the monitoring of drinking water quality. Special attention will be paid to the sludge fields, sewage treatment plants and engineering protection of the city.

In preparation for the flood, F. Timurkhanov noted the importance of informing citizens. Active preventive work has been carried out since February 18. Rescuers speak with fishermen, handing out instructions to them. And from March 5, the same conversations will be held with residents living in areas that are prone to flood events. F. Timurkhanov noted that due to the timely information of the population, it is possible to prevent the dangerous consequences of a natural phenomenon. “We will promptly warn citizens about the imminent threat and, together with the districts’ administrations, will persuade people to take timely measures to preserve their property and household. This is the only way to reduce the dangerous consequences of flooding”, explained F. Timurkhanov.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, instructed all heads of districts to be prepared for the flood. “There is a lot of snow this year, and it still falls. I especially ask the rescuers together with the district administrations to inform the population. This is the case when you need to work on this issue again, paying special attention to lonely elderly people”, said the Mayor.