Po River Flood Precautions: Evacuations, Closures, and Emergency Response
Mobilization of the army, activation for the evacuation of residents along the riverbanks, and preparation of shelters for displaced persons. Closure of the embankments to traffic and, if necessary, of road and rail bridges during the two most critical days, Wednesday and Thursday. These are the drastic measures established yesterday at the Prefecture in anticipation of the Po river flood wave.
Interventions and safety measures
— MANTOVA. Activation of the army, alert for evacuation of residents along the riverbanks, and preparation of shelters for evacuees. Closure of the embankments to traffic and, if necessary, of road and railway bridges during the two most critical days, Wednesday and Thursday. These are the drastic measures decided yesterday at the first meeting of the crisis committee established in the Prefecture in anticipation of the Po flooding wave.
The maximum rising level of the river will affect our province between tomorrow and Thursday and is expected to reach record levels similar to 1994, when over 400 people received evacuation orders. Yesterday, the first riverbanks were already flooded. The great river is rising relentlessly. Yesterday, alert levels were exceeded in the afternoon in Viadana (+4.71 meters at 3 p.m.) and in the evening at Borgoforte, while the Oglio, Chiese, and Mincio remain in flood.
The rate of increase remains sustained, over 5 centimeters per hour, while upstream the wave continues to exert pressure with hourly rises exceeding 10 centimeters. Everything indicates that between tomorrow and Thursday, a flood similar in magnitude to 1994 will pass through our province, but with an exceptional duration for this type of event: about 50 hours.
Crisis unit and emergency management
Crisis unit. Yesterday morning, Prefect Gianni Ietto formalized the establishment of the Crisis Unit, entrusted to Vice Prefect Angelo Araldi, who will oversee the coordination of the emergency. Additionally, an operational room was opened at the Prefecture, with 24-hour communication with territorial operators and law enforcement agencies.
The decisions made by the Crisis Unit, which included the highest officials of law enforcement, can be summarized in a series of directives sent to the mayors of the area, the Province, and the infrastructure management authorities.
Evacuation and surveillance measures
Evacuation of the riverbanks. Residents along the riverbanks received evacuation alerts issued by mayors who will census the residents and prepare suitable locations for possible evacuees. Municipalities will activate 24-hour operational rooms.
Embankment surveillance. The embankments will be progressively closed to traffic to ensure maximum safety. Night-time surveillance of the Po River started last night and will be carried out by both the personnel of the Magistrato del Po and volunteers from civil protection associations (Padus, Delta, Conscripted Carabinieri with the amateur radio operators’ association who will maintain communications).
Closure of bridges
The road, motorway, and railway bridges over the Po may be closed by their respective operators during the peak flood (between Wednesday and Thursday) upon prefectural mandate and following the advice of the Magistrato del Po.
