Reconstruction after the September flood in Silesia is progressing step by step and laboriously. It will take months, if not years. Although a lot has already been done, some residents still have a lot of work to do. From Thursday, they can apply for funding from the Clean Air program. There is PLN 300 million in the pool dedicated to flood victims.
Ms. Sabina Pryt-Kurdziel showed the TVN24 team around her mother's apartment in Lądek-Zdrój, which was destroyed by the flood. Her mother, Mrs. Genowefa, who lived there until September, is now with her. It is not known when she will be able to return. – We need to break the plaster, everything was boiling here, nothing was in its place – says Mrs. Sabina, showing the damage.
A part of the ceiling in the apartment also collapsed. However, before the renovation can begin, the consent of the construction supervision is required. – We can wait for the administrative decision. It is the responsibility of the community or the community manager to obtain such consent – says the mayor of Lądek-Zdrój, Tomasz Nowicki.
Mrs. Genowefa recently celebrated her 100th birthday. As her daughter says, she still experiences the September flood.
Ms. Sabina submitted an application for funding for the renovation, and the housing community promised to renovate the ceiling. – Communities are also in a slightly more difficult situation than, for example, municipal property. Where we, as managers of municipal property, are able to obtain funds, up to 100 percent funding from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, while communities do not have such financing – points out Tomasz Nowicki.
Almost three months after the flood that hit Lądek-Zdrój, about 140 people still live in hotels and guesthouses. However, some of them should soon return to one of the renovated buildings – says the mayor of Lądek-Zdrój.
Additional resources
Renovation and reconstruction are also underway at the primary school in Wleń. – This school will receive funding, it will be over PLN 10 million – said Marcin Kierwiński, government plenipotentiary for reconstruction after the flood.
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The flood destroyed, among others, the gym, kitchen, canteen, locker room and boiler room. Work underway is intended to prevent this from happening in the future.
– In the place where we are, it will be raised on the colonnade by 1.8 meters, so even if there is a flood, nothing will flood us. There will be water in the basement because it is such an area, but we can protect ourselves – says Izabela Michalczewska, deputy director of the School Complex. Saint Jadwiga Śląska in Wleń.
During another visit to the flood areas – at the sewage treatment plant in Jelenia Góra – Marcin Kierwiński talked about more money from the European Union for reconstruction. – Next year, money from European funds for water and sewage infrastructure, water intakes, sewage treatment plants will be launched – these are matters of the latest procedures of the European Commission – said the government representative for post-flood reconstruction.
“Clean Air” and a special program for flood victims
From Thursday, residents of the Lower Silesian, Lubuskie, Silesian and Opole voivodeships whose houses suffered in the flood can also submit applications for funding for their reconstruction and thermal modernization under the “Clean Air” program dedicated to them.
– When submitting an application to us, the beneficiary must submit the so-called a damage assessment report, which must show a minimum of 5% damage. If he used help from the commune, the decision on the aid should also be made, because the point is not to finance such investments twice – explains Paweł Łapacz from the Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund in Wrocław.
Applications will be considered quickly and the entire procedure will be simplified, we hear. – Within 14 days of submitting the application, there will be a decision on the granting and then the funds will be disbursed within 14 days at the latest, so that the money reaches these people's accounts before they have the invoice payment deadlines, so that they do not have to commit their money – said Magdalena Roguska, secretary status in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
The program includes PLN 300 million.
Main photo source: TVN24