Central European countries are bracing for severe flooding forecast to hit the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary over the weekend. Czech authorities erected metal barriers or protective walls from sandbags, while water was released from dams to make space in reservoirs. Residents have been warned to get ready for possible evacuations. “We are currently making preparations for a possible rise in the water level of the local river, so this is a precautionary measure. As in most places,” said Aleš Chovanec, Deputy Commander of the Holasice Volunteer Fire Brigade. Some…