Poland’s emergency alert system is to receive a massive cash injection of 47 million złoty (approximately £9 million) after a recent blunder saw warnings sent to the wrong province, causing unnecessary panic among residents. The Government Centre for Security, known as RCB, confused Lubuskie province in western Poland with Lubelskie in the east when issuing a security alert.
According to Spider’s Web, Deputy Interior Minister Wiesław Leśniakiewicz acknowledged the mistake was down to human error. He explained that within the system’s location interface, the two similarly-named provinces had previously been positioned next to each other, making misselection easy. Following the incident, the provinces have been separated in the system.
The error, however, highlighted deeper systemic problems. A parliamentary inspection led by MP Janusz Cieszyński revealed that RCB was “deprived of the resources required for proper operation”, according to newspaper Rzeczpospolita. Currently, just three people operate the system on 24-hour shifts.
Four-fold budget increase approved
In response to the crisis, the Minister of Internal Affairs has secured agreement from the Prime Minister for a nearly four-fold increase in RCB’s budget. Leśniakiewicz told Rzeczpospolita that the 47 million złoty allocation will fund a partial rebuild of the centre’s internal infrastructure and strengthen its technological tools through the Civil Defence and Population Protection programme.
A recruitment drive is already underway. Once completed, RCB is expected to employ around 100 permanent staff members, a substantial increase from the skeleton crew currently managing Poland’s national emergency alert system.
Alerts to expand beyond SMS
The current alert system has faced widespread criticism, particularly regarding the frequency of notifications in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Many residents have complained that the messages provide little useful information and have begun ignoring them altogether.
Shortly, RCB alerts will be delivered not only via SMS but also through mObywatel, the Polish government’s official mobile application. The new system will include explanations of what triggered the warning once the immediate danger has passed, addressing complaints that current messages lack context.
The recent mix-up occurred during a particularly sensitive period when precision in emergency communications is critical. Officials acknowledged that while human error can happen in any organisation, this particular mistake was especially significant given the current geopolitical tensions affecting Poland.
What this means for Poles in Poland
If you maintain property in Poland or have family there, the upgraded RCB system should provide more reliable emergency notifications from next year. The expansion to the mObywatel app means alerts will reach more people, particularly those who already use the platform for government services. Anyone who spends time in Poland should download mObywatel to receive these enhanced alerts, which will now include follow-up explanations.
For those with relatives in eastern Poland who have been receiving frequent alerts, reassure them that the government is addressing both the technical failures and the lack of useful information in current messages. The 100-strong team replacing the current three-person operation should reduce errors and improve response times.
The investment also signals that Poland is taking civil defence infrastructure seriously. Anyone planning to return to Poland temporarily or permanently should familiarise themselves with RCB alerts and ensure their Polish mobile number is active, as these warnings cover everything from severe weather to security threats. Official information about RCB can be found on the gov.pl website.
