"There is a strong likelihood that spring to experience flooding, so that this year winter is full of snow, and water sources has created a thick ice layer. To natural disasters affect us in the least, they have a good time to prepare and observe the special care of their time," was said on ministry of home affairs last month published document "Recommendations for action during the flood."
Despite the warm Friday, when a rapidly continues to melt snow, water levels at river Lielupe in Jelgava dropped to 3.23 meters, notify the local agency «Pilsētsaimniecība». Svetes river water levels Friday evening reached 282 centimeters above the zero mark the observation station. Minister of home affairs Linda Murniece after the flood affected Kalnciema visit acknowledged - the situation is serious, but not so difficult to issue an emergency situation,'' said on the Latvian Television broadcast "Panorama".
"The situation is still such as to call for emergency assistance because the person is delivered, aid is given, they just have returned from the outside world. But the amount of water that endanger their safety," said Minister L. Murniece, who visited the flooded site nearby.
State-owned energy company ''Latvenergo'' reports that more than 500 people now lives without electricity. It has even been reported that the police have saved a dog tethered to a tree, which would likely be drowned. Unfortunately two children has been drowned and one man saved from drowning today, at Ķīšezers lake.
Forests are entering the cities. Deers and boars are more frequent guest at the homes than ever. That is because they can not find food in flooded forests. Situation is complicated by the fact that wild animals are being persecuted by dogs.
Yesterday I was talking to local inhabitants and what I found was shocking. In more than 30 years they didn't remembered bigger floods that it's this year. Global warming does not affect only the countries and continents, which are far away from us. With more and more we are confronted with the consequences of our irresponsibility. That's why I will soon publish an interview with the Latvian Ministry of Environment representatives about the European Union and Latvia's plans to fight for the preservation of environmental sustainability.
Thanks for reminding us about climate change also in Th!nk About it 3
Even in Sweden this winter has been a scaring example of how unprepared we are… roofs collapsed, the train system was down for some weeks in February… (The spring flooding is usually not dangerous in Sweden, though.) It is stilll a mystery to me how a North European country can be surprised by snow.
I agree with you Daniel. Taking note of climate change is as important as ever. Talk of it has faded here slightly and only seems to resurface if there is slightly unusual weather.
Yes… I get a little depressed when I see how changes in weather affects how people think about climate change. But if it snows outside, suddenyl lots of people think that the climate is not changing.
@Dainiel - Thank you for your comment. This was surprising for me too. I mean, these things we could only see on TV - floods in Asia, snowstorm in America and so on. We thought that every winter, every spring we will be ready, but the reality is different. Every year money, that we spend for cleaning streets from snow or snow removal from the house courtyards and streets is growing. And there comes the question - is it cheaper to ignore CO2 limits, than fight with melting ice in Asia and Europe, and investing money to new projects that we will never use, because they are too expensive right now and wait for them to be cheap to use is too risky?
@Lara - I agree with you. Although THINK2 competition has ended it is too risky to not to talk about climate change. Besides, in MDGs there are eight goals and one of them is “Ensure environmental sustainability”. We cant think that we can solve food, water or to combat with HIV/AIDS and other diseases without fighting with climate changes. It’s all connected and if one part of chain is broken, it will be even harder to reach other goals. That’s the reason why I mostly will try to write about Environmental sustainability.
And thank you for commenting! Have a nice day