Rebuild what can be rebuilt, clean up the mountains of garbage, fully restore utilities. Every day in flooded areas, new items are added to the list of needs. The Minister of Finance assures: the budget is prepared to finance reconstruction and removal of the effects of floods. He reminds that there is still EU money and funds from a project with the participation of the World Bank. The only question is – considering the enormity of the destruction – how long will all this be enough?
The Minister of Finance assures that the state has secured specific funds for the reconstruction of the destroyed areas. – We have already secured two billion zlotys and we are ready to increase this amount even further – says Andrzej Domański.
The government adopted changes in next year's budget regarding the reserve for combating the effects of floods. This increased to almost PLN three billion and 200 million.
Minister Domański says that there is also EU money and funds for projects with the participation of the World Bank.
Bodzanowo is a village located five minutes from Głuchołazy, where the flood caused enormous damage. For now, its inhabitants could count on help from strangers in their misfortune. – When people from outside came and saw the destruction, they came to help. Yesterday, a gentleman from Katowice even came and washed all the walls. Everything that could still be saved, he helped, says Józefa Rudnik, a resident of Budzanów near Głuchołazy.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the local government's activities. – I can't reach the village head, I can't talk to the office. No coordination – says Józefa Rudnik. Looking at her farm, you can see the scale of the destruction.
Water entered both the house and outbuildings. Some equipment and machines, as well as animals, were saved. They need to be provided with shelter until winter.
Cleaning up and counting losses
– A state of natural disaster has been introduced, among others, for the communes of Krosno Odrzańskie – says Paweł Szymczak, councilor in Kosno Odrzańskie, village head of Osiecznica. This means that money will be directed there, both for residents and the local government.
– The amounts will be two thousand, then eight thousand zlotys. This is first aid paid quite quickly. As for the next amounts, they will amount to up to PLN 200,000 for a residential building and up to PLN 100,000 for a farm building – informs Paweł Szymczak.
“It will take us a year to dry it all.” Some flood victims are dealing with the effects of heavy flooding for the second timeMarta Kolbus/Fakty po Południu TVN24
Now clean-up and loss counting are underway in Osiecznica, located in this commune.
– There will be special priorities, in other words: tasks – says Andrzej Domański. And here Marcin Kierwiński, who was in Głuchołazy over the weekend, is to play an important role.
The government plenipotentiary for post-flood reconstruction and the commander of Operation “Phoenix”, General Krzysztof Stańczyk, were next to the bridge destroyed by the flood wave. In addition to rebuilding infrastructure and destroyed houses, the government is to allocate funds for entrepreneurs.
– Up to PLN 16,000 for each insured person who works in the workplace or up to 75 percent of the monthly revenue of a given company – says Andrzej Domański. The upper limit of the amount is to be one million zlotys.
The flood bill that is supposed to provide these funds is already being processed in parliament.
Main photo source: PAP