The floods which affected vast swaths of the Czech Republic and other central European countries including Germany and Austria, claimed several lives and caused chaos as tens of thousands were evacuated from their homes.
One of the areas affected in CZ was ?eský Krumlov, host to the recent 2013 Showlight conference. Many houses were flooded due to the surging water levels of the Vltava river - normally a small unobtrusive creek which became a raging torrent - with possessions destroyed by the surging waters.
Robe, based in Moravia which luckily escaped the flooding, has formed a close link with ?eský Krumlov in the four years run up to the Showlight symposium, for which . Robe was the main sponsor.
"It was absolutely a 'no brainer' that we should help the aid operations in the most practical and immediate ways that we could " states Josef Valchar, "We have a lot of friends and good relationships with people in ?eský Krumlov and so we chose to support the aid operations there directly."
Robe lighting donated a truck full of cleaning materials, disinfectant, rubber gloves and shoes and other such materials which will help to get damaged houses back to normal. The clean-up is being co-ordinated by the Czech Red Cross.
Marketing manager Jiri Baros organised a collection from Robe, sister company Anolis and PCB manufacturer Dioflex, which soon built up to over 20,000 Czech Crowns. This will help two families purchase some of the basic essential items needed to refurnish their homes once they are dried out.
Says Baros, "Everyone has been incredibly generous in making donations! We have all been very moved by the experience, and wanted to respond with a positive contribution. We all still remember the heavy floods here in 1997, and know the seriousness of the situation for many families."
A major reconstruction operation is underway to repair damaged homes, properties and businesses as life attempts to return to normal now the waters have receded.
(Jim Evans)
