Flood situation. Appeal of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “This is the most important thing now”

During Wednesday's meeting of the flood crisis team in Wrocław, the Prime Minister Donald Tusk He stressed that he can state with satisfaction that “after these rather stormy meetings in the last few dozen hours, in those places where people were very much expecting the services to take care of them – as we had committed ourselves to – we are reaching every possible place”.

– There are certainly many more places where people are waiting for our presence – Tusk said at the same time. However, he stated that he hopes that it will be possible to reach more and more effectively “not only the main centers of unrest, but also everywhere around larger and smaller cities – where people are also waiting for help.”

Donald Tusk made an appeal regarding flood embankments. – I appeal to all residents of Wrocław, where we are, but also everywhere where we are waiting for the water to come: the most important thing is to take care of the embankments. Hence the appeal to residents not to walk on the embankments – he said.

He added that he understands those who want to go onto the embankment and see what's going on, but the presence of people on the embankments, especially on a quad or bicycle, is now unacceptable. – I understand that curiosity or concern drives people there, but let's not walk on the embankments – emphasized the prime minister.

He explained that this is an additional burden for the flood protection infrastructure, and while flood embankments may still overflow, the most important thing now is to avoid flooding and overloading the embankments. – This can be not only equally dangerous, but even more dangerous in its consequences than flooding – he emphasized.

He called on people to “discipline in solidarity” and appealed to take this request from him and other services seriously.

– This information, which indicates that in these key places the culmination should not reach the top of the embankments, cannot reassure any of you, because (…) there is always the question of whether the embankment will hold, not only whether it will not overflow, but whether it will hold – said the Prime Minister.

As he emphasized, that is why – “regardless of the fact that we expect that within 48 hours it will be after the peak (of the flood wave – ed.), we still need to be mobilized.”

The Prime Minister recalled that the reports presented indicate that the high water levels will continue for about two more days. – These embankments will continue to be subject to very serious pressure, which means that all services will have to guard them in an extremely concentrated manner – he said.

The head of government also drew attention to the “extraordinary civic outburst” resulting from the flood. He pointed out that thousands of people spontaneously, “without any appeals” and “without any coercion”, helped the services and organized themselves to protect their towns. – If we thank the services, I would like us to always start by thanking the citizens, because they rise to the occasion – said Tusk.

The head of government appealed to governors and local governments to conduct “the most obvious building inventory”. He said that during local visits he learned that “in several places (…) there is not even basic information about the number of destroyed apartments and buildings”.

Tusk recalled that the Ministry of Development and Technology has engaged over five hundred experts in construction supervision, who will assess as quickly as possible whether flooded buildings are suitable for further use. – (Specialists – ed.) must have full cooperation and full mobilization of local government officials, so that experts can immediately reach the places where it is necessary to determine what requires full reconstruction – he emphasized.

The head of government stressed that expert opinions are a priority because evacuees must be provided with replacement apartments, which are to be built in cooperation with the Industrial Development Agency. – There are signals there that they are ready to build such modular fast apartments, but for this we need precise information – he added.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the next briefing with the services regarding the flood situation will take place on Thursday evening.

– Due to the meeting on aid for Poland and other countries affected by the flood, I propose that the briefing be held after it, around 7.30-8.00 p.m. – said the head of government.

On Thursday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will visit Poland and will come to Wrocław. The head of the EC will meet with the prime ministers of the three countries that were affected by the element: Poland – Donald Tusk, Czech – Petr Fiala, Slovakia – Robert Fico and the Chancellor Austria Karl Nehammer.

IMiGW Director Robert Czerniawski said at the staff meeting that “the most disturbing situation is on the Bóbr River in Nowogród Bobrzański, where the wave is currently at its peak.”

– According to forecasts, the water level should drop after 9 p.m. – he said.

He admitted that the greatest concern is currently the situation in Oława and Brzeg, where the water level is currently the highest. – However, it is quite stable, we can say that, and it will last for about two days – said the head of IMGW.

He said that in the case of Opole and Wrocław “the situation seems to be less worrying” and, as he noted, “water should not overflow over the embankments there.”

According to Czerniawski, the worst case scenario is “the Bystrzyca River, where we are dealing with water regulation in the Mietków reservoir and an unnatural water state”. He also admitted that according to the models that were made, “even in the event of water in Bystrzyca coming into contact with the Odra, the situation is not tragic”.

– We are also recording warnings for Kaczawa, Nysa Kłodzka, Widawa, Nysa Łużycka, but we cannot speak of any direct threat there – said Czerniawski.

Brigadier General and Commander WOT Krzysztof Stańczyk said that 10,000 soldiers are currently on duty in flood areas. He noted that most of them are currently cleaning up in areas where the flood wave has already passed.

– In addition, we supervised the embankments and fortifications along the Odra, in the Bóbr basin and on the Nysa. Engineering task forces carried out the task of clearing roads and removing waste that had formed in flood areas – he reported on the events of the last 24 hours.

In addition, the aviation task force carried out a number of missions, primarily reconnaissance missions. A big bag drop is underway in Lewin Brzeski, and such an action is also planned in Narok. – Air reconnaissance is also being carried out all the time – Stańczyk reported