Deadly Floods Hit Odesa as Rescuers Save Hundreds

Rescuers worked through the night, alerting residents to flooded streets, rescuing vehicles stranded in the road, assisting buildings submerged, and doing whatever was necessary to save lives. They assisted everybody from passengers trapped on a bus, drivers assisted out of their half-submerged vehicles, and entire families saving from homes.

The night for many of the residents meant a flurry of confusion and panic of rushing water, emergency sirens, and worried family members. There was also a girl who had gone missing when there were real fears about her fate until the rescuers found her in a sudden search. All involved felt relief amid the chaotic events, but as with any loss, the grief will last much longer in the city.

Rainfall was Unprecedented, Normally Directed at Halting the City
Odesa's mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, said the event was literally off the charts and uncontrollable. He said that in just a seven- hour window, the urban area received nearly two months of rain. He confirmed that no urban stormwater system could handle nearly two months' worth of rain in a matter of seven hours.

Whole streets turned to rivers, cutting off cars, individuals, and access to emergency services. Residential neighborhoods were also affected, as floodwaters entered ground floors, inundating possessions and forcing families to escape to higher elevations.

Images of the destruction—including cars piled atop one another, buses only partially above water, and residents walking through water up to their chests—demonstrate how sudden and destructive the storm turned out to be. For locals, the rain was anything but an inconvenience; it was a violent reminder of how rapidly their lives were upended.

Rescue Efforts Save Hundreds
Even with the destruction, thank goodness for the rescue teams, or we would have lost countless more lives. The state emergency service reported that overall, as ongoing rescues were conducted, 362 lives were saved. Teams accessed the stranded individuals in boats, with ropes, and even utilized heavy equipment. The emergency crews also began attempting to pump water out of public buildings, debris clearing, and re-establishing some semblance of normalcy.

It should not be lost on society how remarkable the work of rescuers and emergency crews was during all of this. Many worked all night without a single break to be sure they were able to protect as many lives as possible. Residents told of neighbors

carrying elderly adults to safety, and then people passing out dry clothing and shelter to those impacted and displaced. During the disaster, the resilient community spirit emerged.

Families Struggle with Loss and Damaged Property
For those families who were in fact impacted, the anguish is unquantifiable. Those who lost loved ones due to such a rapid and violent disaster will live with their loss for an unheard-of amount of time. In addition to mourning, there is the practical issue of going through the damaged home and destroyed belongings, not to mention uncertainty about what happens next.

Some residents shared with me how quickly the waters rose, and that they did not have time to react. One minute, they were inside hearing heavy rain and then all of a sudden, they were careening, deciding how to evacuate children or elderly loved ones from rapidly rushing water. For parents, it was an instinctual and frightening challenge to try to protect their children during pure chaos.

Odesa Faces the Aftermath
As rescuing continued, officials reminded the residents to take precautions. Certain parts of the city remained flooded, and there were continued efforts to open impassable roadways and restore utilities. There were also potential contamination issues of the water supply and risk of disease, which is a commonplace concern after extreme flooding.

Mayor Trukhanov, for instance, called on citizens to remain patient and unified. He would say the devastation will require only urgent responses, but also long-lasting solutions. The focus, he said, had and should have been about helping identify people who lost the most, but people must also do the heavy lifting of rebuilding and adapting the city.

A Community Tested, But Not Broken
The flooding in Odesa serves as a sobering reminder of how increasingly common extreme weather impacts can be. Floods are destructive and heart-rending rendering but they also reinforces the good will that comes from community spirit, and it shows us how important a timely emergency response is.

The people of Odesa will have a long road ahead for their downtown area to recover. Families will start to pick up the pieces and rebuild. Businesses will again open their doors for the first time. The city will adapt to its new normal. However, for now, the conversation still is, who was lost, sir who was saved, and how we can prevent this from occurring again.

In between taking care of loved ones is human resilience. The people of Odesa with first responders and local volunteers, have demonstrated that rain can not take away their will to stand together.