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Expenditure caused by flood disaster
as a part of the national expenditure 1954, in millions of guilders
other expenditure
fls. 500 millions to cover the cost of reconstruction and payments under
the Flood Disaster Law to prevent the complete impoverishment of the
stricken population. Adding another fls. 300 millions as a rough estimate of
the restoration costs of dikes and other public property, the total
budgetary burden comes to about fls. 800 millions. Most of this sum will
have to be spent within two years.
As stated before, this huge expenditure the maximum we can af
ford does not provide for more than the prevention of impover
ishment. There is, however, a considerable difference between that and
the restoration of each individual in his former estate. It was the latter
objective which gave rise to one of the most impressive examples of
international alliance in peace-time history.
An overwhelming generosity all over the world raised in a few months
fls. 125 millions in money and a variety of much needed goods.
Thus, the Flood Disaster Fund and the Red Cross were able to meet the
full requirements in the field of personal care and aid both during evacu
ation and afterwards during resettlement of the victims.
Important and heart-moving as this may be, it is only part of the
unprecedented activity that went on in the area after the first few days
of sorrow and confusion. An army of hydraulic and agricultural engineers
set out to drive back the sea and to reclaim the land.
Eight months after the flooding took place all but one of the breaches
had been closed and only 2,400 hectares remained exposed to the sea.
On more than 100,000 hectares the lengthy process of desalting is in full
swing. With careful treatment of the soil with a view to promoting drainage
and leaching, together with the application of several tons of gypsum per
hectare to restore the crumbly structure of the clay, normal cultivation will
be possible within from three to five years. In a number of villages the
first reconstructed houses have already been delivered.
Thus, in keeping with the history of these islands, their proud device
"Luctor Et Emergo" (I struggle and emerge) will once again be confirmed.
Loss of agricultural production
arable land
1953
horticulture
I960 tt
Each disc represents a value of 10 millions of guilders
