The streets turned into raging torrents. Water began to seep into the buildings through the windows. In the local monastery she reached for the pulpit. This is what happened in Kłodzko (Lower Silesia) when a flood wave passed through the city. Now its effects are being removed. We talk to micro-entrepreneurs who count on government help. For now, after two weeks, they are angry that there is still no help.
Krzysztof and Anita Walczak have been running an auto parts store in Kłodzko for 23 years. The element destroyed their premises.
– The mayor said well on the radio that the ground floors that were flooded were not even small, but micro entrepreneurs who run their own businesses or employ maybe one or two people. This is what it's like here in the old town, said Anita Walczak in an interview with TVN4.
Krzysztof and Anita Walczak have doubts whether their company will recover after the flood TVN24
They claim that the government is avoiding the issue of entrepreneurs
The couple estimated the losses at PLN 350,000. zloty. As they say, you will have to wait for the money from the insurer even for a whole year. – And this year we've been hitting the wall – said Anita Walczak, angry.
She also stated that although the infrastructure is being reconstructed, which can be seen every day by observing the work of, for example, soldiers, there is no government aid for entrepreneurs.
– Two weeks have passed and still silence. The topic of entrepreneurs is avoided so as not to accidentally reveal that there were entrepreneurs here, said Kszysztof Walczak.
The disaster destroyed small businesses TVN24
They thank the volunteers with breaking voices
And his wife added that they were helped by strangers – volunteers.
– If it weren't for them, we would still be stuck in mud. Volunteers from Przemyśl arrived, a group of 30 people. They helped us a lot. And after they left, they also sent a dehumidifier and a heater. Not only for us, but also for our neighbors, said Mrs. Anita, her voice breaking.
Entrepreneur: let smart minds come up with something
Wojciech Sobierski, who ran a shop with cash registers in Kłodzko, hopes that the government will help entrepreneurs.
– Now we will see what kind of government we have. We are in the throes of cleaning up the damage. Let wise minds come up with something, he said.
Monika Sobierska says she dreams of turning on the grinder again and starting work TVN24
They expect financial support from the government
His wife, Monika Sobierska, who ran a workshop for renovating old furniture, said that she always dreams of getting up in the morning, turning on the grinder and starting to work.
– I don't know how we're going to deal with this. I expect financial support from the government. Individuals will receive help, but we are not able to open a business. We have nothing and we have to start to live, she said.
Main photo source: TVN24