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A quote from Sander van Poorten, Senior Policy Officer for Water Safety at Water Board Rijn and IJssel. We are standing on the dike in Millingen aan de Rijn. Looking out over the water and the landscape, memories come to Sander. In 1995 (he is now 47), he walked with a colleague in Bommelerwaard from his internship at Fugro -for his studies in Civil Engineering. "On the radio we heard the message that because of the untenably high water levels the Bommelerwaard would be evacuated. We were called by the business that we had to leave. In the car the other message came through: The Ooijpolder had to evacuate. My home base..."
Every effort was made to secure household goods. "We had found temporary shelter with relatives in upper Groesbeek. It became a matter of securing furniture and valuables in record time. In retrospect, the furniture on the second floor at home had not survived the water."
"I remember on the way to Groesbeek we had to pass a military checkpoint at the German border to register as evacuees. Bizarre to see that there had been no order to evacuate in Germany along the same water route. In the dark we drove past houses where people were comfortably watching television, while the whole place could flood at any moment," Sander continues. He remembers the period in Groesbeek with mixed feelings: "On the one hand it was cozy, with three families in one house. There was a strong sense of solidarity. On the other hand, we were constantly on our toes, because every next news item could be one reporting that the flood was a fact. Fortunately, we passed through the eye of the needle at the time."
The evacuation left Sander with no doubts about where his future should lie. "I wanted to use my knowledge gained to work in Water Safety. When I saw the vacancy for Specialist Flood Defenses at Waterschap Rijn en IJssel passing by in 1997, I didn't hesitate. I have since grown into my current position. In the beginning of my career I was to be found outside a lot, now that's about 10% of all work. But ... I know the dikes like the back of my hand.
The fact that the water can be so threatening did something to Sander in 1995. The helplessness he felt then is forever stored in his memories. "However, by consciously choosing to do this work, I feel like I'm taking back a piece of control over that same water. Water can be your friend, but it can also be your enemy. It is sometimes said that you should keep your enemies closer than your friends. Closer to the water and the levee than I can get now."
