Vilnius district to declare emergency in three elderships

Vilnius District Municipality plans to declare an emergency in the Avižieniai, Riešė and Zujūnai elderships, the areas worst affected by a weekend storm. LRT reported the decision, citing a municipality press release.

The municipality’s Emergency Situations Operations Centre decided at an urgent meeting on Tuesday to propose that the district mayor declare the emergency in the three elderships.

The decision followed an assessment of the storm damage, reports from residents and information from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service on severe weather recorded in the area.

“The most important thing is to help people and eliminate the consequences of the storm as quickly as possible,” Vilnius District Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius said. He added that declaring an emergency would allow the municipality to coordinate work more quickly, mobilise resources and provide assistance to affected residents, municipal institutions and elderships.

The hydrometeorological service said a squall hit the Vilnius district, with wind speeds reaching or exceeding 15 metres per second, the threshold for a severe meteorological event. Wind speeds in the Avižieniai area may have reached 28 metres per second.

The storm caused damage to public infrastructure and private property. Since Sunday morning, the elderships have been working with increased staffing to remove fallen trees, repair roads, register residents’ reports and assess the damage, according to Vytautas Vansavičius, director of the Vilnius District Municipality administration.

If the emergency is declared, the heads of the three elderships will be appointed operations managers in their respective areas. Commissions will also be formed to assess reports from residents and legal entities about damage to immovable property and submit proposals on possible financial assistance.

Under current legislation, assistance may be provided for damage to residential buildings and other essential residential infrastructure. Fences, outdoor equipment and other property not directly connected with a dwelling are not eligible for compensation.

Financial assistance following a natural disaster may amount to up to 3,500 euros for damage to a house or flat, up to 1,500 euros for damage to a garden house and up to 500 euros for damage to an outbuilding.

The municipality will provide additional funding to the elderships to help remove the storm damage more quickly. They will organise the removal of large fallen trees and trunks from public spaces and private properties when residents are objectively unable to do so themselves.

Residents are expected to clear smaller debris, such as broken branches and other small remnants of greenery, from their own properties.

People who have declared their place of residence in Vilnius district, as well as legal entities registered and operating there, may apply for compensation. Those affected are urged to photograph the damage and report it to their eldership as soon as possible.