Poland is struggling with the effects of intense rainfall and storms, which brought the Genuese Low. The resin affected peculiarly heavy confederate and central regions of the country, causing local flooding, rising water levels in rivers and severe handicaps. Since the beginning of the weather collapse, the service has intervened more than a 1000 times, fighting the effects of the storms. The Government safety Center issued alerts for residents of 10 provinces, informing against possible flooding and calling for caution. Although the weather situation is slow stabilizing and forecasts are better than initially assumed, the services stay on advanced alert, monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis. Tens of scout and tourist camps have been evacuated, and residents of endangered areas are preparing for the worst scenarios. The Prime Minister convened a crisis staff, stressing the request for pre-emptive action and continued coordination of services.
Firefighters and troops in action. Over 1,000 interventions a day.
Thousands of firefighters of the State Fire Department and Fire Service Volunteers have put dense rainfall on their feet. In the last 24 hours, more than 1000 interventions related to storms and rains. The activities of the services were concentrated mainly in Podkarpackie, Śląskie, Małopolskie and Lubelskie voivodships. Firemen removed fallen trees, broken branches, and, above all, pumped water from flooded property, basements, and streets. The injured have been over 300 buildings.
The press spokesperson for the chief of PSP, Brig. Karol Kierzkowski, reported that only on Wednesday until 10:40 p.m., firefighters intervened 421 times. The highest number of applications was received from Warsaw and the Mazovia region (80), Małopolska (74), Silesia (71) and Podkarpacia (53). Łódź, Świętokrzyskie, Lubelskie, Opole, Dolnośląskie, Podlaskie, Warmian-Masurian, Zachodniopomorskie and Kujawsko-Pomeranian provinces were besides involved.
The military besides provides support for local communities. Soldiers of the 17th Opole Territorial Defence Brigade patrol floodbanks and monitor the water level, especially in areas that have suffered during earlier climbs. The services shall guarantee the highest readiness and good coordination at all levels.
Where is the most hard situation? Emergency and emergency.
Although IMGW informs about the stableness of the situation, hydrological alerts inactive apply in many places in Poland. The situation is peculiarly hard Małopolska. In Gorlice on the Sękówka River, there is inactive emergency, and the water level reaches 452 cm. informing states have been recorded on many another Małopolskie rivers, including Skawa, Rabie, Dunajec, Biała Tarnowska and Uszwica. In the territory of Tatra, in Poronina, nearly 65 litres of rain per square metre fell within 12 hours, resulting in overshooting of informing conditions on 5 rivers and local flooding.
On Lower Silesia, despite a calmer night, the servants stay vigilant, remembering the events of September last year. In the Śląski Site, where the damaged barrier on Biała Lądecka was only temporarily secured, residents express concerns. Dolnośląska Voivodeship Anna Żabska calls for caution, stressing that weather models are dynamic and the situation can change quickly.
Flood rescue announced in respective areas Silesia, among others in Bielsko-Biała, Cieszyn, Czechowice-Dziedzice and the municipalities of Bielsko-Żyecki County. Although the water levels in Wisla and another rivers in the region are falling or maintaining mediate states, the services are conducting preventive action, securing river banks and monitoring the situation.
RCB alerts and mass evacuations. That's how people were protected.
In consequence to the threat, the Government safety Center sent SMS alert to the inhabitants of 10 provinces: Lesser Poland, Mazowieckie, Silesian, Świętokrzyski, Lublin, Podkarpackie, Opole (part), Podlaskie (part), Warmian-Masurian (part) and Łódź (part). The message warned against intense rainfall and called for preparation for possible drownings and following the instructions of the services.
One of the key preventive measures was evacuation of 73 vacation camps for children. Ministry of National Education reported that about 2 000 people to safe places. Most evacuations were carried out in Podkarpackie, Lesser Poland, Silesia and Świętokrzyskie voivodships. The services emphasize that these were mainly preventive activities, and the participants of the camps are safe.
In any places, like on the Śląski Site, residents surviving close rivers, remembering erstwhile floods, They carry precious things on higher floors, blowing cold, even though the current water level is low.
IMGW calms down, but warns. What is ahead of us in the coming days?
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management informs that the weather situation is improving and the strength of precipitation is gradually decreasing. Forecasts are more favourable than expected. In third-degree informing areas, where initially the precipitation could be up to 140 mm, it is expected from 30 to 55 mm rainand the full amount of precipitation shall not exceed 200 mm.
However, the synoptists inform that the Genuese Low will stay over Poland at least until Monday, which means that the next days will proceed to be dynamic. Warnings against dense rain apply no later than Thursday until 20:00. Locally in the south of Poland can fall even 100 mm of rain.
President of the Polish Waters Mateusz Balcerowicz said that multifunctional tanks and dry flood tanks are ready to accept a possible flood wave. The flooring of the vessels in the Soyl cascade and the Pig Poręba reservoir has been started to guarantee safety below these facilities. However, local submerge above reservoirs where there are no flood reserves cannot be excluded.
Losses and assistance to victims. What happens after the rain?
The effects of the storms are not only flooding, but besides harm to infrastructure. In Podkarpacie, where the storm front passed in erstwhile days, there was a break in power traction, leaving no power even 55 000 recipients. Although most of the breakdowns had already been removed, on Wednesday morning about 300 people remained without access to electricity.
Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak assured that all national roads were mobile and the services secured key constructions. On the railway there was a break in traction on the Wrocław-Brzeg Dolny-Ścinawa line, which caused difficulties in the movement of trains.
The Podkarpacke Voivodeship Teresa Kubas-Hul reported that the start payment of ad hoc benefits for residents affected by storms. The harm assessment committees are besides working to rapidly measure the degree of harm and plan further support.
Although the worst forecasts have failed, and the situation seems to be stabilizing, the services are calling for attention to the threat and further tracking of messages. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that the experience of erstwhile years requires the utmost vigilance and readiness to respond immediately in the event of a deterioration. The key days ahead will require constant monitoring of river water levels and preparedness for prevention and rescue.
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There's a fight going on against the Genuine Low. Firefighters have intervened over 1,000 times!
