Zagreb County župan Stjepan Kožić has declared a state of natural disaster due to drought for the municipality of Brdovec and the town of Ivanić-Grad. The decision was made after the drought in the period from 1 May to 31 August caused significant damage to agriculture in these areas.
Following the declaration of a state of natural disaster, municipal commissions for damage assessment must enter their initial estimates into the Damage Register. The deadline for entry is prescribed by the Law on Mitigation and Removal of Consequences of Natural Disasters.
The declaration for Brdovec and Ivanić-Grad is a continuation of a series of decisions declaring a state of natural disaster due to drought in Zagreb County. Thus, on 15 September, a state of natural disaster due to drought was declared for seven towns: Jastrebarsko, Velika Gorica, Vrbovec, Zaprešić, Samobor, Sveti Ivan Zelina and Sveta Nedelja.
On the same day, 15 September, a state of natural disaster was also declared for 14 municipalities: Brckovljane, Dubrava, Farkaševac, Klinča Sela, Kloštar Ivanić, Krašić, Križ, Jakovlje, Luka, Pisarovina, Pokupsko, Preseka, Rakovec and Rugvica.
A few days later, on 17 September, a state of natural disaster due to drought was declared for the municipalities of Gradec, Orle and Žumberak. This covers a wide range of areas in Zagreb County where farmers suffered losses caused by prolonged drought during the summer months.
The declaration of a state of natural disaster enables the initiation of the damage assessment procedure and subsequent allocation of aid to affected farmers. A key step in this process is the entry of initial estimates into the Damage Register, which must be done by the relevant municipal commissions within the legally prescribed deadline.
