Vízügyi Közlemények, Az 1998. évi árvíz, 2003 (különszám)

I. kötet: Az 1998. évi árvíz - Váradi József: Bevezető

19 Introduction The flood events of the years 1998 to 2001 have demonstrated positively that the improvements and developments during the preceding years were necessary and successful. Over the defence sections strengthened to the regulation standards no critical situations developed, the demands of emergency operation for workforce, material and equipment and this the expenditures were appreciably lower, roughly by one order of magnitude. The costs of controlling water, of emergency measures, restoration and compensation for damages covered from the central budget amounted to HUF 184 thousand million during the 1998 to 2001 period. Of this total 60 thousand million were spent on flood emergency measures. Each emergency situation has displayed particular, special features. Regardless thereof, conclusions of general nature could be arrived, the appraisal of which should offer valuable guidance in planning and organising the measures needed for mastering future flood-, undrained runoff- and water pollution emergencies. The occurrence of abnormal floods in the Tisza Valley between 1998 and 2001 has confirmed the conclusion that major floods are liable to develop on these rivers in any season of the year also in succession and that preparations are inevitable to cope with these. Studies are needed to explore their properties, in particular to explain why the same

ßoodßows are conveyed at successively higher peak water levels. With the aim of managing and solving the new problems raised by these floods, the water agency has stared work on formulating and implementing a new long-term concept of flood control under the program called "Improvement of Vásárhelyi Plan ". Várcidi, J.