Parnu faces the challenge

by Simmo Saar

The winds that caused extensive damage in Parnu at the beginning of 2005 killed at least 14 people in Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain. Most of the flood damages in Estonia occurred in Parnu where water levels reached almost three metres above average (275 cm). The city centre, and its beachfront area became submerged. More than 200 people were evacuated from the area. The storm destroyed 775 buildings, directly affecting the lives of 5,097 people. The businesses in the Parnu County estimated that their direct storm damages amounted to EEK 93 million. This amount does not include the income loss that the businesses faced. The fishery, agriculture and tourism sectors suffered most.

The following issues were addressed after the storm:

• Is Estonia's crisis management and notification of residents sufficient?
• Do people know what they are in sured against?
• Can such events recur and are they related to global warming?

In this context, the ASTRA (Developing Policies & Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region INTERREG IIIB Neighbourhood Programme) project was launched. Its main objective was to assess regional impacts of the ongoing global change in climate and to develop strategies and policies for climate change adaptation. The results of the studies stated that by the end of the century, water level in the Bay of Parnu shall rise by about lm and the area's temperature by 2-3°C, and precipitation by about 10%.

Living in a potential crisis area calls for changes in both improving preparedness for solving emergencies and urban planning. For instance, developers are advised to consider in the detailed plan the potential rise in water level. For better notification of the general public, an autonomous warning system (PAUH) comprising five separately located audio devices is planned to set up. PAUH can operate using emergency batteries and, thus, is not connected to the power supply. Communication between parties taking part in the process of solving crisis situations has also improved - city government, National Defence League, Defence Forces, rescue centre, hospital, Red Cross and the police have specified their plans of action during joint meetings. The working groups will work jointly to find solutions for evacuation problems and create a system of autonomous evacuation points.