Prevent the big water. Flood control measures in Prague (Bohemia) issued by public administrative bodies in late 18th century
Abstrakt
At the end of February 1784, the Czech lands were hit by heavy floods which left behind many dead as well as considerable material damage, including the ruined Stone (today Charles) Bridge in Prague. During the same time, the administrative bodies of the area of the Czech lands were undergoing an array of substantial reforms designed, in the spirit of enlightened absolutism, to increase their efficiency so that they could thus contribute to the "greater good".
The Prague police president initiated an intensive communication with regional offices and an exchange of information concerning the thickness of the snow blanket and of the ice on the rivers. After the lesson taken from 1784, the administrative bodies focused on careful preparations and, departing from the Viennese instructions and previous experience, issued a list of measures to be taken during the floods, during the flood prevention and the subsequent flood relief.
This elaborate system of protection against flood threat was completed in Prague at the end of the 18th century and the measures of later times followed directly from it.