Billions Needed to Repair Flood Damage in Czechia as First Aid Arrives

The Czech government and regional authorities are beginning to assess the devastating flood damage and have started releasing the first funds to the affected regions.

The Ministry of Regional Development has already allocated hundreds of millions of crowns for the repair of roads, bridges, and schools.

Additionally, the Czech Republic will apply for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund, while local governments are contributing more resources.

For instance, the Olomouc Region has pledged a quarter of a billion crowns for flood recovery. According to Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), the total damage is likely to reach tens of billions of crowns.

The EU Solidarity Fund was established in 2002 after devastating floods impacted Central Europe, including the Czech Republic. Since its creation, the fund has provided over €8.2 billion (CZK 205 billion) to EU countries affected by more than 130 emergencies.

Following a meeting with President Petr Pavel, Finance Minister Stanjura did not rule out the possibility of amending the state budget to accommodate the reconstruction needs. He emphasized that while more precise estimates of the damage will be available soon, the financial impact could reach tens of billions of crowns.

As with previous natural disasters, such as floods and tornadoes, the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) is overseeing the reconstruction efforts. “We need to ensure that the support programs from various ministries complement each other rather than overlap,” Bartoš noted, adding that a steering committee has been established to coordinate reconstruction in the hardest-hit areas.

The Živel Programme, overseen by the Centre for Regional Development, handles funding applications from municipalities for the repair or renovation of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, public buildings, and street lighting.

These funds can also be used for the removal of debris from watercourses and related repairs. Currently, CZK 200 million is available for these projects, with up to CZK 20 million per project.

The Ministry will contribute hundreds of millions more from its own resources. By comparison, after the South Moravia tornado, the Ministry allocated CZK 1.3 billion for recovery.

A special emergency aid program is also being prepared for areas where a state of emergency has been declared, which will determine the method of reconstruction and include funding for municipal housing repairs.

The Olomouc Region has already approved up to CZK 250 million in aid for affected municipalities. The funds will be distributed gradually, with the Jesenicko area being the most impacted, although regions like Šumperk and Litovelsko have also suffered significant damage.

Governor Josef Suchánek (STAN) emphasized that although flood protection measures have helped mitigate damage, some areas remain vulnerable.

Troubky, a village in the Přerov district that became a symbol of the 1997 floods, still lacks comprehensive flood protection. “There is an urgent need to improve flood prevention measures to avoid future devastation,” Suchánek stressed.

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