Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political games

Gabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă gabrielaiordachita@gmail.com

Abstract: In this study we are interested to make an analysis about community action and competent authorities in managing emergencies. The case that we have in attention is about flooding of the Danube and Siret River in Galati area, in period 17 June to 10 July 2010. The situation had a high risk for 350,000 residents of Galati, a town surrounded by three rivers: the Danube, the Siret and the Prut. The town was in real danger of being flooded. In fact it was a big area even of town where water entered homes and filled streets. The local authorities and community participated in construction of some dams to stop water.

We started this sociological research with some simple questions: was intervention in case of flooding in Galaţi a success due to excellent organization at local level or just a game of hazard? Was emergency management due to interests of the government's image of politicians and not of coherent decisions of the institutions involved?                To answer these questions we undertook a methodological approach based on a content analysis of media at local and central for our topic. The conclusions appear very interesting beyond the responsibility of managing an emergency request, we will see in fact a series of political games and power far exceeding the original from which we started. Keywords: emergency management, local community, governance, political games

I. Institutions in emergency management in Romania

Permanent development of civilization, technology and population growth determined in the

last millennium increasing impact of human activities to the environment with consequences in

local and/or global level. Changing dynamics of society and the environment is more accelerated

in recent years. In this context, international concern to prevent disasters is not only concern the

scientific community and international organizations in the face of hazard, but a necessity for

awareness of the dangers that lurk us, do victims and damages. The aim of this concern is to find

the most effective solutions to assess and minimize risks.

Related risks as a society, we are constantly subjected to below I will customize and I will

make a very brief introduction on the organization of the Romanian institutional and

administrative management of what is called the hydrologic hazards-floods.

In Romania there is legislation providing the organization and procedures for emergency

intervention. I can remember here for example: Emergency Ordinance 21/2004 about National

Management System for Emergency Situations with subsequent modifications, plus many other

government decisions or Law 329/8 July 2004 about merger Civil Protection Commandment and

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Inspectorate General of Military Firemen Corps forming General Inspectorate for Emergency

Situations (GIES).

Thus, in case of a national emergency constitute National Committee for Emergency

Situations (NCES), whose president is the Minister of Administration and Interior, and vice-

president is Secretary of State in Ministry of Administration and Interior.

National Committee for Emergency Situations consists of about 30 state institutions,

representatives of other ministries, central authorities, special services and press.

Because Romania is divided administratively into 42 areas/countries, in each area in case of

emergency forms Countries Committee for Emergency Situations which is led by the Prefect of

that county, vice-president is the president of County Council, and members, about 48 in

number, are mayors of towns in the county and state institutions directors, directors of hospitals

etc., plus a Technical Committee with advisory role, consists of about 17 members. In every

county/area there are towns and villages, in each town and village in case of emergency in that

country/area forms Local Committee for Emergency Situations. The Local Committee has as

president the mayor of the town or the village and other members that previously established.

A very important role in emergencies has General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations

represented in each county/area.

Other institutions with competence in flood management are The Romanian Waters National

Administration and Environmental Protection National Agency.

Romania has a color-weather warning system, as follows:

Green C ode indicates no particular precautions for the next period, but does not imply

a fine weather.

Yellow Code is used to temporarily dangerous weather phenomena for certain

activities, but otherwise normal for that period or specified area.

Orange Code applies to those provided to dangerous weather, with a high intensity.

Red Code is applied to weather expected to be dangerous with a high degree of

intensity and with disastrous effects. (Appendix-Graphic 1, Graphic 2)

II. About research methodology

Theoretical perspective in which I framed this research was the structuralist-functionalist

as defined by Romanian sociologist Cătălin Zamfir: "Functional analysis of systems opens both

an explanatory perspective and a constructive: it explains not only why a social system is

organized in a way or another, but it also opens the possibility to determine how appropriate and

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

efficient is it organized in relation to its aims, how it could be improved. The structure represents

all relations of interdependence ordinate between elements of a system, so changing an element

produce determined changes in all other elements.” Zamfir, 1999, pp. 106 - 107

On my data collection I used a media monitoring in the period 17 June 2010-30 July 2011

about the subject of flooding in Galati. I had also done an interview on July 16, 2011 with the

former Secretary of State for the Contact with Prefectures at the Minister of Administration and

Interior during 2005-2008, his name is Victor Paul Dobre. I did a written request to the Country

Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi and I received a few reports during the 2010 floods

in Galaţi and I used it selectively.

III. Galaţi floods during June 17-July 10, 2010

a) The beginning of the emergency

In the following I will make a presentation on the sequence of events related to floods in

Galaţi. The purpose of this presentation is to put in place every piece of a puzzle and to obtain

such an image as objective as possible on how worked the intervention institutional and

community in the situation of flooding in Galaţi.

I will start with time on June, 17, 2010 when a significant rain quantity, lasting more than 24

hours, caused that the canalization system from the Valley Town can’t longer cope with high

water flow and repressed on the streets. (Appendix-Photo 1) Some people in panic climbed on

roofs when they saw that dirty water wave covers streets, gardens, cars. An area of about one

kilometer in this residential district was flooded. In this area is the Hospital “CFR” where the

water entered in the first floor of the building. Therefore, authorities have instituted an

emergency, releasing its intervention procedures. Ambulances could not move in that huge lake

formed in the front of hospital, so seriously ill patients were transported by boats provided by the

Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations from Galaţi. (Appndix-Photo 2) Also, the doctors

that went to work in the morning used boats. In the hospital building dozens of persons that has

suffered by floods slept on sofas in the emergency room or on the chairs in the waiting room.

The hospital has played the role of emergency refuge. Electricity in Valley Town neighborhood

was interrupted for security reasons.

By the end of June 17, 2010 the authorities sum up the damages from floods and found

that a total of 300 houses in Valley Town District related of the 8 streets were flooded in full as

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

basement of Danube Hotel, basement of “Danubius” University, basement of a public building in

Ţiglina I District. In Barboşi District flooded tree houses and one deposit.

Lieutenant Eugene Chiriţă, official spokesman in Country Inspectorate for Emergency

Situations from Galaţi said [Adevărul, 17.06.2010]: "Now it works for drainage of buildings

located in Valley Town District and Barboşi District and on the Street “Lunca Siretului”. In other

locations, above mentioned, was completed intervention to remove the effects of floods. There

were a number of 250 people evacuated from flooded areas. "

At these interventions worked: 8 officers, 21 non-commissioned officers, two work

trucks with water and foam, three towing pumps, and three pneumatic boats.

Due to strong water infiltration, two access roads to Galati were collapsed: DN25 linking

the town of Galati and Tecuci (Appendix-Photo 3) and access road to the Galaţi area-Tirighina.

(Photo 4) Auto traffic on the two routes was conducted with difficulty.

Due to heavy rainfall the Danube increased with 10 cm, reaching at 588 cm (Appendix-

Photo 5) and is coming increasingly more of the level of flood.1

Hydrologists have announced Orange Code in the South areas of Romania and Yellow

Code in East and show that the Danube will continue to grow.2

In the next days the weather forecast is confirmed, it rains constantly in Galati and in the

country, so the Danube exceeded in 22.06.2010 the level of flood with one centimeter, reaching

601 cm, with a flow of 16,340 m/s. (Appendix-Photo 6, 7, 8)

During 22-30.06.2010 Danube continued to grow. In a period of 15 days (15-30 June) the

increase was 50 cm.

From the above where following emergency (effects):

- Water penetrating though the industrial areas of Galati, located near to the Danube and

in different areas of work platforms and keys in these areas; (Appendix-Photo 9)

- Discharge of canalization water through industrial zone joint with the city;

- Leakage of water in the body of dams and in the ground;

- Floods homes, yards, gardens, Danube “Faleza” and the railway line Galaţi-Tecuci.

(Appendix-Photo 10)

Lieutenant Eugene Chiriţă, official spokesman in Country Inspectorate for Emergency

Situations from Galaţi said for press [Adevarul, 26.06.2010]: "Expectations are the worst, we

1 Danube flood-level is 600 centimeters, and the danger level is 700 centimeters.2 Here I must mention an important aspect namely that the historical level of the Danube was reached in April 2006 when the river reached 657 cm, with 57 cm over the level of flood and with one centimeter more than the previous historical maximum of 1897.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

expect that Valley Town District and Bădălan Area to be flooded. We prepare for the worst for

Saturday or Sunday [26-27 June 2010] when it reaches the high flood on the Danube to Galati. "

Accommodation for people who would have had to be evacuated it was intended to do at

students’ hostels in safety zones, in total 500 beds. Food will be provided in the Canteen of

Social Assistance Service.

The rail transport was influenced by floods. Region Director “CFR” Galati, Ionel

Filimon said: "Water covered the railway line on an area of several hundred meters, near to

Şendreni village.3[...] Siret forces us to completely stop traffic on that railway line.

"[Realitatea.net, 29.06.2010] Şendreni area was established Red Code.

b) The institutional organization to manage the emergency in period 22-30.06.2010

At the institutional level started the application of procedures stipulated by Romanian laws in

emergency situation against floods in order to protect people and property from flooding and to

remediate damages and ensuring operation (supply, transportation, etc.) in the city.

On 22.06.2010 Country Committee for Emergency Situations Galaţi met in five

extraordinary meetings to analyze the operational situation and to establish following measures

in the case of flooding caused by the rivers Danube, Siret and Prut:

- Field support;-Constant communication and information with National Committee for Emergency

Situations;-Concentration of ground forces and resources in critical areas;

Local Committee for Emergency Situations Galaţi:

-Ensure permanent at the city hall;              - Met in extraordinary session to establish appropriate measures to be taken;              - Information and alerts sent by population and economic operators in risk areas;              - Monitoring of risk areas;              - Consolidations dams and make a dams higher; -Evacuation water from canalization and maintaining a constant level;             

- Operative intervention team was in mayoralty;              - Population inventory of risk areas for possible evacuations, establishing and

preparing evacuation;              - Ready reserve forces and materials for intervention.

Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi

3 Sendreni village is about 30 kilometers far from the Galati city.5

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

- Monitored the emergency situations in area of responsibility; -Sent warnings for Orange Code and Red Code to Local Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and for economical operators situated near to that three rivers; -Checked the service to mayoralty;

- Checked the application of its flood protection plan; -Planning, organization and preparation of operational teams, able to move in critical

areas;4

-Quick and prompt intervention with forces and materials of solving emergencies registered;

-Ensure rapid forces and materials for intervention in emergencies; - Notification and warning individuals and businesses in the Lower Brateş dammed

by the danger of flooding and prepare for evacuation if the situation will require;

- Alarm subordinates.

Water Management Sistem Galaţi

- Monitoring the work of defense and water levels;-Work intervention to stop the dam leakage;- Establishment of operative intervention teams throughout the warn- Red Code;

- Informing of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi and ministerial committee;

- Expert assistance for intervention force

Country Inspectorate of the Gendarmerie Galaţi

- Participated in monitoring the operational situation with Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi; - Population inventory of risk areas: Valley Town, Barboşi, Şendreni; -Participated to make dams higher and building dams;

-Ready reserve forces and materials for intervention.

County Police Inspectorate Galaţi

- Participated in monitoring the operational situation with Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi;

-Participated in Population inventory and notification of residents: Valley City, Barboşi, Şendreni;

- Directed traffic in the working points and closed DN 2B

Country Inspectorate of Border Police

- Participated in monitoring the operational situation with Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi;- Participated in the monitoring work in areas dammed Brateşul de Jos and Brateşul de Sus.

Galaţi garrison :

4 Critical areas are those showing potential flood danger.6

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

-Participated to make dams higher and building dams; -Ready reserve forces and materials for intervention.

Economic companies situated in risk areas made:

- Monitoring the work of defense for company;- Participation to make dams higher and building dams;- Isolation canalization system;- Evacuation water from canalization and maintaining a constant level;- Operational information center about the operational situation;- Personal reserve and intervention materials for operative intervention.

Were established 9 Operative Centers of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations

Galaţi. Also, were determined the exact number and type of intervention, necessary equipment

and personnel. On the whole for emergency management in Galati acted a number of 729

persons, 39 pumps, 42 machines, 10 trucks, 9 cars.

Analyzing the situation was identified the following risks:

If the water would exceed the historical level, would flood the villages Cosmeşti,

Şendreni, Barboşi District and Valley Town, endangering the lives of more than 7000

people and 3500 homes, causing disruption of 42 operators, three educational institutions

and a hospital.

Breach in dam body due to escape of control of infiltration;

Deliberate action by destroying the works;

Lack of reaction from the operative intervention forces.

Measures to minimize risks of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi:

Request for 2 pumps with large capacity for keeping constant the level of canalizationin

the Valley Town District;

If damage to water supply networks of localities have been checked and prepared for

drinking water installations and a tanker with a capacity - 9000 liters for drinking water;

Accommodation spaces for victims have been checked and places of food preparation and

distribution;

Residential modules have been checked and prepared for areas affected by floods;

If the dam breaks in “Brateşul de Jos”, they will make another dam;

Make a deposit of stone for intervention in case of breaches in dams;

Prepare more beds at the Hospital "St. Andrew" for the evacuation of patients from

Hospital “CFR”.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

On 25.06.2010 Technical Support Group from Galaţi met in session. It was agreed that a

number of 15 employees of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi support Water

Management System in 26.06.2010 the execution of the dam Bădălan. Also, in the session has

made an interoperability of Galaţi with other two towns on the Danube, Brăila and Tulcea.

On 26.06.2010 Technical Support Group from Galaţi met in session. The head Manager

of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi, Colonel Balaban Vasile said that the

pumps discharge water infiltration is not sufficient and have taken radical measures to protect the

Valley City District by creating a dam of sandbags in the most vulnerable areas and 50 peoples

from some public institutions and 300 soldiers will work for that dam.

On 27.06.2010 held an extraordinary meeting of Countries Committee for Emergency

Situations and a videoconference with Prime Minister of Romania, Emil Boc. During this

meeting has decided to evacuate people in socio-economic activities on the river floodplains

Siret, Prut and Danube and warning people of danger areas on the imminent floods. Also in this

meeting were determined and urgent measures needs to be taken to protect persons and goods.

On 28.06.2010 Technical Support Group from Galaţi met in session. The bad news that

discussed in meeting was about dam collapse danger in Şendreni village. The solution of

Technical Support Group for this situation was to make high the dam a length of 2 kms.

c) The situation becomes more serious

On 02.06.2010 in Galati Danube reaches 663 cm, with 6 cm above the historical level of

2006. Danube threatens the city. Big problems are and in Sendreni, a village located at the

confluence of the Danube and Siret. Siret also exceeded historical levels.

Prime Minister Emil Boc arrives on July 3, 2010 around 13.00 on a visit in Galati at

Prefecture, where he meets Countries Committee for Emergency Situations. Media access is

prohibited at the meeting.

Before meeting the Prime Minister made brief statements to the press promising solutions

and water, food and roof over heads for those affected by floods. In front of the Prefecture a lot

of people are dissatisfied with government involvement in preventing floods and threw with eggs

and tomatoes in front of Prime Minister. After meeting Prime Minister goes to the village

Şendreni (Photo 11) where the dam situation is uncertain.

I make a specification that people's dissatisfaction due to the fact that after 4 years of

floods in 2006 at Galati did not do any work Danube course planning to prevent flooding in the

city although there is a project in this direction, but money was not allocated by the government.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Officials announce a predictable worsening within two or three days of the situation in

the Braila-Galati, when Siret River will exceed the historical flow, when the flow reaches at the

river mouth of the Danube. At that time Danube will not be able to take its tributary water. In

solidarity local authorities in several cities of Romania began a campaign to collect aid for those

in flooded areas.

The Prefecture of Galati on July 4, 2010 is a meeting of National Committee for

Emergency Situations with participation of Minister of Administration and Interior, Vasile

Blaga, Environment Minister, Lazlo Borbely, Secretary of State in Ministry of Administration

and Interior, Mihai Capră, Undersecretary of State in Ministry of Health, Raed Arafat, Prefect of

Galati, Cosmin Păun, Prefect of Brăila, Dumitru Popa and the President of Tulcea County

Council, Victor Tarhon, with other members of the Committee. (Appendix-Photo 12) The

atmosphere is tense. The Committee seeks a solution to prevent flooding of Galati under the

weather forecast estimates an increase in the level of the Danube at 690 cm. The Committee

takes in consideration several solutions.

People are worried and nervous gathered in front of the Prefecture where the meeting of

National Committee for Emergency Situations takes place. They have posters of cardboard

where wrote: “Save Valley Town!” and "Save the history and economy of Galaţi!” (Appendix-

Photo 13)

After two hours of discussion the meeting ends with a solution: ascension dam with sandbags in

36 hours. People are not satisfied with the solution of the Committee. They wanted a controlled

flooding of the Danube on the opposite bank of Galaţi but the officials did not want this because

there are lands that belong to other politicians.

The dam will have a length of 4.5 km and a height of 1.5 meters, began to be built in fact

still the day before. The officials decided to increase the number of workers to 1,400 people for

things to go faster. Workers plus volunteers were supervised by 45 experts from the Romanian

Waters.

On July 5, 2010 at 12:00, the Danube in Galati measure 678 cm and was growing.

Instead, Siret River begins to decrease, from 729 cm at 0.00, to 722 cm at 12.00. Around 14.30

arriving again in Galati Prime Minister Emil Boc with Minister of Administration and Interior,

Vasile Blaga. They came to see the dam with a length of 4.5 km. (Appendix-Photo 14) Emil Boc

has inspected the dam, carried a bag with sand and put a shovel of earth. (Appendix-Photo 15)

Several residents of the Valley Town District called "Huo", "You have to destroy the country!"

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

“Do you bring some money with you?” to Prime Minister while he came to see how things were

going to raise the dam. [Ziare.com, 05.07.2010]

While some people are working hard on dam (Appendix-Photos 16, 17, 18) in Upper

„Faleza” of Danube, others come just to see how the river level rise. Small business and cafes on

the Lower Faleza are destroyed by floods. (Appendix-Photos 19-26)

If the dam does not stand, local authorities say that will be dire consequences: "In these

conditions if the dam will not resist, would flood a quarter of Galati, Damen Shipyards, port and

customs. There are nearly 200 business units in the area and 12,000 jobs. [...] I think it would be

the biggest urban disaster in Romania after the Second World War. [...] I do not want to sound

dramatic, but it is simply reality.” Said Mircea Cristea, vice-mayor of Galaţi. [Adevărul, 05.07.

2010]

Romanian President Traian Basescu comes to visit Galati on July 6, 2010 to inspect

high dam to protect the city from the Danube. (Appendix-Photo 27) The President said that the

dam is currently the only solution to save town from floods: "From the discussions that I have

had with those responsible persons, but from the current data on the evolution of the Danube

level, we can be optimistic. I remove the hypothesis to break the dam at “Cotul Pisicii”5 or

elsewhere, for controlled flooding. [...] Galaţi is prepared to resist at level of 695 centimeters of

the Danube, is prepared to resist and to 715 cm.” [Realitatea.net, 06.06. 2010]

For construction of the dam were used more than 250,000 bags of sand, according to

official spokesman of Prefecture Galati, Petrică Crângan Paţilea. [EVZ, 06.06. 2010]

Danube level is growing. In the morning visit of President Basescu the Danube measures

680 cm, with 80 cm more than the rate of flooding, the highest level since the Romanian

specialists measure the Danube.

On July 8, 2010 European Commissioner for international cooperation,

humanitarian aid and crisis response, Kristalina Georgieva with Prime Minister Emil Boc

fly with helicopter over flooded areas of Galaţi. The two officials made visits to the flooded

areas and at the working point of the Damen Shipyards Galaţi, which operates the Belgian

team consists of ten specialists and equipment sent by the Belgian State assisting The

Community Mechanism for Civil Protection of the European Commission. Other four

5 Cotul Pisicii is an area of the Danube bank, opposite to Galati.10

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Member States offer equipment to cope with the floods after Romania activates the EU Civil

Protection Mechanism on July 2, 20106.

Galaţi Town is not yet safe from high waters of the Danube and Siret. There are many

doubts on the solution represented by the dam built on the Danube Faleza. Solution that actually

saved the city was on a worker participating in building the dam on River Siret.

Sandu Gheorghiu has 51 years old. When he was young, he worked on the Danube-Black

Sea Canal. When he saw Emil Boc Prime Minister, on 3 July, visiting the Sendreni at work

building the dam on the Siret, man has the courage and proposed an alternative use of Danube-

Black Sea Canal to reduce the level of the Danube. Opening the locks will cause a decrease the

Danube level in Galaţi. Thus means that a part of the Danube flow will be taken from the

Danube-Black Sea Canal. Four days later, Minister of Economy announced that opened the locks

of Cernavodă. Danube level began to decrease in Galaţi and river waters could take and Siret.

The solution given by Sandu Gheorghiu proved correct and with a good viability.

IV.Considerations related to floods in Galaţi

All these problems could be avoided in the opinion of experts. Flooding appears because

only one side of the river is dammed enough while on the opposite bank of Galati water flows

and cause flooding. hese specialists consider that this error is an explanation of the flood of

increasingly frequent in recent years caused by Danube.

“Ceausescu was obsessed to surround all waters to provide as much land to agriculture.

[...]So they built a dam with a height of 758 centimeters on bank Tulcea on the Danube, while on

Galati bank the dam remained at 650 centimeters.” Romeo Cândea said. (hydrotechnical

engineer) [Jurnaluldevrancea.ro, 07.07.2010]

However, the Ceausescu regime and those who followed have forgotten one thing: to build

the dam higher on the bank of Galati town, because water does not enter in the city.

Two solutions are to this problem. The first solution is to raise the dam next to the city of Galati

to 750 centimeters. The second solution is a planning of the Danube meadow. Last solution is

already being planned in 2006, “Renaturation of the Danube-Green Corridor". Nothing happened

since 2006 about this project and no money has been allocated.

6 The Community Mechanism for Civil Protection of the European Commission supports cooperation in disaster response. This mechanism involved 31 European countries (27 EU Member States plus Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). After activation mechanism ensures the coordination of assistance intervention in the EU and beyond. Such actions are coordinated by the European Commission with Monitoring and Information Centre.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Floods in Galati picture is not complete if not add change directors of Country

Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi four times in one year. It is said that the reason

would be represented by certain statements in the press that they would have done about how the

governors have managed the emergency situation in Galati. I will start with director of Country

Inspectorate for Emergency Situations who participated in the management of floods in the

summer of 2010, Colonel Vasile Balaban. He is changed by Colonel Constantin Ene. I did not

found any the reasons for this replacement.

Events takes place rapidly, so that on January 6, 2011 Colonel Constantin Ene, only

five days called as Director of Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi gives an

interview and stated that the floods in summer 2010 was a good opportunity for some political

figures to draw attention to themselves and adds a shocking statement: "Saving Galati flood

was a circus! [...] It is frustrating, embarrassing even to intervene every year on certain places,

always the same, without doing something to solve problems. What made last year was just

acting. It is nice to see people like running with the bag in the back. It's just image. There is

nothing in return.” [Adevărul, 06.01.2011]

Shortly, after this statement Colonel Constantin Ene is forced to resign and is replaced by

Colonel Vasile Balaban.

On May 24, 2011 and Colonel Vasile Balaban made a statement claiming that the

government did nothing of the promised in time of floods. Country Inspectorate for Emergency

Situations has not reached any formal paper that would be notified that any work begins in

Valley Town District. We know nothing about it. I know they promised more. They built a dam

meter till in this moment? A few days ago it rained a bit and again problems. We collected water

in the streets. "

It is not clear if changing of Colonel Vasile Balaban like director in Country Inspectorate

for Emergency Situations is due or no press statements. The fact is that he was dismissed as

director and replaced by Colonel Ion Plesu.

To prove once again declarative concern of government to the problem of flooding, on 23

June 2011 organized a seminar in Galati about: “Economic and Environmental Resize of Lunca

Dunării to reduce flood risk" with the participation of Minister of Environment and Forests,

Laszlo Borbely and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Valeriu Tabără (Appendix-

Photo 28) The seminar was to present important information on flood risk and providing risk

maps for Lunca Dunării.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

In early 2011 Galati Town Hall owned two big buildings. In the first building Town Hall

plans to build a retention basin for rainwater collected in Valley Town District. In the second

building will arrange for emergency shelter. The projects are ambitious, there is one problem: the

authorities did not specify from where they will obtain funds for their implementation.

However, I must remind the remarkable initiative of County Councils in Galaţi, Brăila,

Buzău, Constanţa, Tulcea and Vrancea which were associated and created a project with

European funding, approved, worth 12 million euros. The project aims to purchase a total of 63

specific equipments for emergency interventions: modern trucks and ambulances. New

equipment received by Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations will shorten the response

time in emergencies.

V. Conclusion

Then, flood scenario can be repeated anytime in Galaţi Town if the waters will rise above

normal flow. Galati area presents a high risk of floods.

Officials seem more concerned with disaster intervention than its prevention, which is

focusing on obtaining easily a good political image by words without to make something

concrete for people. Construction of new dams and raising those that exist is blocked because the

officials do not allocate the funds needed for this work.

The drawing up maps of flood risk areas in Galati represents an important step for future

action in areas mapped.

NGOs did not intervene in emergency management created, were absent in fact or at least

that was the situation in Galaţi in 2010.

Community involvement and participation was high in rural and relatively poor in the

town of Galati. Greater involvement was only from people directly affected by flooding or in

danger of being affected. In the city was not a community mobilization made by authorities, the

situation was opposite in the village.

Galati saving solution by opening the lock from Cernavodă and part of the Danube flow

was taken from the Danube-Black Sea Canal. The solution came from a simple man, with no

special or official functions in emergency management. This shows the inability of the

authorities and specialists involved in flood management to find viable solutions themselves.

Informing the public on developments flooding was permanent and appropriate, but there

was no sufficient transparency of the decision making.

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Change of three directors at Country Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Galaţi in one

year because they reported the real situation in the press about the irresponsibility of political

officials, is proof that officials are trying to hide reality with any price.

Galaţi avoid flooding was actually due to a game of chance rather than the result of

involvement of officials whose actions were rather characterized by improvisation.

Activation of Community Mechanism for Civil Protection of the European Commission was an

important aid to Romania to fight against floods.

The only real thing that has made episode of flooding from 2010 to present was the

project with European funding approved worth 12 million euros to purchase modern equipments

for emergency interventions.

Finally, I remember an episode that honors Romania regarding importance of emergency

intervention. This episode I was told in interview by Deputy Victor Paul Dobre, Secretary of

State at the Minister of Administration and Interior during 2005-2008.

In 2007 when Greece faced a series of large-scale fires with victims, Romania has just

acquired an advanced fire-fighting helicopter. This helicopter was sent by the Romanian state

and had its first trial by fire to extinguish fires in Greece. "[...] and I even got a letter of thanks

from the Greek State that the helicopter made its duty.” Victor Paul Dobre wanted to mention.

14

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Appendix

15

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Graphic 1 Decision Flow for Flood Management

Source: www.rowater.ro

16

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Graphic 2 Information Flow for Flood Management

Source: www.rowater.ro

17

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 1) Canalization system from the Valley Town can’t longer cope with high water flow and repressed on the streets (17.06.2010)

Photo 2) People go to Hospital “CFR” by boat (17.06. 2010)

18

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 3) Subsidence on the road DN 25 Galaţi-Tecuci (17.06. 2010)

Photo 4) Subsidence on the road (Tirighina) (17.06. 2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 5) The Danube increased (17.06. 2010)

Photo 6) Danube continued to grow. (22.06.2010)

20

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 7) Danube floods “Faleza”. Caffees are full of water. (22.06.2010)

Photo 8) Danube floods “Faleza”. (22.06.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 9) „Damen” Shipyards is flooded (23.06.2010)

Photo 10) The railway line Galaţi-Tecuci is flooded (29.06. 2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 11) Prime Minister goes to the village Şendreni where the dam situation is uncertain.(03.06. 2010)

Photo 12) National Committee for Emergency Situations (04.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 13) People are worried and nervous gathered in front of the Prefecture. They have posters of cardboard where wrote: “Save Valley Town!” and "Save the history and

economy of Galaţi!” (04.07.2010)

Photo 14) Dam made by sandbags with a length of 4.5 km (05.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 15) Prime Minister Emil Boc carried a bag with sand and put a shovel of earth. (05.07.2010)

Photo 16) Soldiers working at the dam in Galati (05.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 17) People are working hard on dam (05.07. 2010)

Photo 18) Workers involved in dam building (05.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 19) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)

Photo 20) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)27

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 21) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)

Photo 22) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)

28

Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 23) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)

Photo 24) Floods on Lower „Faleza” (05.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 25) Floods on Lower “Faleza” (05.07.2010)

Photo 26) Floods on Lower “Faleza”-Ferry (05.07.2010)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Photo 27) Romanian President Traian Basescu comes to visit Galati (06.07.2010)

Photo 28) Seminar in Galati about: “Economic and Environmental Resize of Lunca Dunării to reduce flood risk" with the participation of Minister of Environment and

Forests and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (23.07.2011)

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

Bibliography

O.U.G 21/2004 – Ordonanţa de Urgenţă privind Sistemul Naţional de Management al Situaţiilor de Urgenţă, aprobată şi modificată prin Legea 15/2005.OG. 88/2001 – Ordonanţa privind înfiinţarea, organizarea şi funcţionarea serviciilor publice comunitare pentru situaţii de urgenţă, aprobată şi modificată prin Legea nr 363/2002, modificată prin OUG. Nr 25/2004Legea 481/2004 –Lege privind protecţia civilăLegea 340/2004 –Lege privind instituţia prefectuluiHG 1489/2004–Hotărâre privind organizarea şi funcţionarea comitetului Naţional pentru Situaţii de urgenţă; HG 1490/2004–Hotărârea pentru aprobarea Regulamentului de Organizare şi Funcţionarea şi a organigramei Inspectoratului General pentru situaţii de Urgenţă; HG 1491/2004– Hotărâre pentru aprobarea Regulamentului-cadru privind structura organizatorică, atribuţiile, funcţionarea şi dotarea comitetelor şi centrelor operative pentru situaţii de urgenţă; HG 1492/2004 – Hotărârea privind principiile de organizare, funcţionare şi atribuţiile serviciilor de urgenţă profesionisteHG 2288/2004 – Hotărâre pentru aprobarea repartizării principalelor funcţii de sprijin pe care le asigură ministerele, celelalte organe centrale şi organizaţiile neguvernamentale privind prevenirea şi gestionarea situaţiilor de urgenţăLegea 477/2003 privind pregătirea economiei naţionale şi a teritoriului pentru apărareLegea 132/1997 privind rechiziţiile de bunuri şi prestări de servicii în interes publicHG 11/1998 pentru aprobarea Normelor metodologice de aplicare a Legii nr. 132/1997Legea 329/ 8 iulie 2004 fuzionarea Comandamentului Protectiei Civile şi Inspectoratul General al Corpului Pompierilor Militari formand Inspectoratul General pentru Situatii de Urgenta (IGSU)Acordul Consiliului Europei, 1987, “EUR-OPA Major Hazards”“Strategia de prevenire şi combatere a catastrofelor naturale”, 1994, YokohamaZamfir, Cătălin, 1999, „Spre o paradigmă a gândirii sociologice. Texte alese”, ed. Cantes, Iaşi

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Emergency Management: floods in Galaţi, România, between coherence strategy and political gamesGabriela-Violeta Iordăchiţă

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