1997 Central European flood
The 1997 Central European flood or the 1997 Oder Flood of the Oder and Morava river basins in July 1997 affected Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, taking the lives of 114 people in the Czech Republic and Poland and causing material damages estimated at $4.5 billion (3.8 billion euros in the Czech Republic and Poland and 330 million euros in Germany). The flooding began in the Czech Republic, then spread to Poland and Germany. In Poland, where it was one of the most disastrous floods in the country's history, it was named the  Millennium Flood ("Powódź tysiąclecia"). The term was also used in Germany ("Jahrtausendflut"). The event has also been referred to as the Great Flood of 1997. Causes. Southwestern Poland and the northern Czech Republic experienced two periods of extensive rainfall, first occurring 3–10 July and second 17–22 July. The precipitation was caused by a Genoa low pressure system, which moved from northern Italy to Moravia and Poland. The unusual development occurred when a field of higher air pressure between the Azores Islands and Scandinavia was blocked. The center of low pressure remained over southern Poland for a long period of time . The precipitation was very high, measuring , and corresponded to several months' average rainfall over a few days. Water levels rose 2–3 m above previously recorded averages and were so high that they caused the water to flow over existing measurement poles. It was one of the heaviest rainfalls in recorded world's history. It was dubbed the Millennium Flood because a likelihood of such a flood in a particular year was estimated at 0.1%. Floods. Flooding began on 5 July in the Czech Republic and spread to Poland on 6 July. Those early floods were very rapid flash floods (water  levels rose by up to four meters in half a day). In Poland, the first settlements flooded were located around Prudnik and Głuchołazy, and were visited by Polish Prime Minister Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz on 7 July. Flooding spread rapidly from Chałupki to Racibórz. In Kłodzko several buildings dating back a few hundred years (kamienica) collapsed; on 8 July the flood reached Krapkowice. In the second stage of the flood, the flood wave flowed down through the Oder river, submerging successive towns in the area. Left-bank Opole was flooded on 10 July, Wrocław and Rybnik on 12 July, and Głogów soon  after. The rising waters slowed by the time they reached the Polish-German border (the Oder-Neisse line), allowing more time for preparations; the damages were thus much lower. On 18 July, Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski declared a day of national mourning. Water levels. Water levels recorded on the Oder river in the flood period: Fatalities and damages. The flood caused the deaths of 114 people (56 in Poland, 50 in the Czech Republic) and material damages estimated at $4.5 billion (3.8 billion euros in the Czech Republic and Poland and 330 million euros in Germany). In Poland, it  is estimated that 7,000 people lost all of their possessions. 9,000 private businesses were affected and 680,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. The flood also damaged 843 schools (100 destroyed), 4,000 bridges (45 destroyed), 14,400 km of roads and 2,000 km of railways. In total, 665,835 hectares were affected in Poland (an estimated 2% of total Polish territory). The losses were estimated at 63 billion Polish zloties (or US$2.3–3.5 billion at the 1997 levels). The town of Kłodzko sustained damages equivalent to 50 years of its annual budget. In the Czech Republic, 2,151 flats and 48 bridges were destroyed . 538 villages and towns were affected. The losses were estimated at 63 billion Czech korunas. The town of Troubky was most severely affected. In Germany there were no fatalities. Responses. Government responses in the Czech Republic and Poland were criticized. The flood revealed various inadequacies in decision making and infrastructure, although the unprecedented magnitude of the disaster was seen by some as a mitigating factor. Numerous charities provided aid to those affected by the floods.