The flood victims were first provided by fast and ad hoc help to be experienced. Then, calmly, support comes adequate to the needs – these still exist, because four months after the flood there are people who need support, even if their homes were not kidnapped by swollen water. Material of the magazine “Poland and the world”. The whole edition is available on TVN24 GO.
The flood brought huge losses – also those that are not obvious. Ewa lives in Lądek-Zdrój in a municipal apartment. Her children live abroad and she is alone every day. Her apartment did not touch the flood, not directly.
– I was supposed to go to surgery, but I didn't have whom. Nobody wanted to go. You need a guardian, and such an operation is two days, a long way to Katowice – says the woman.
Mrs. Ewa says that she was to have glaucoma operated in one eye, but the operation did not come to fruition and the eye is getting worse. When asked about what is the most difficult in everyday life, she says: “lighting in the oven”.
Overloaded OPS in Lądek Zdrój
Journalists learned about the situation of Ewa from the owner of the restaurant in Lądek-Zdrój. Mrs. Justyna, financially supported by foundations, transports meals to the elderly and disability in the city and several neighboring municipalities.
– These are the elderly who require constant care, both physical and psychological care – emphasizes Justyna Jurkowska.
Destruction in Lądek ZdrójTvn24
The village administrator of the village of Radochów Agnieszka Riegielska admits that the commune was alone in this field. – We organize ourselves to help these residents, while OPSs are overloaded with issuing decisions, there are too few employees, so here the key help of volunteering is key – he indicates.
This is a matter that is constantly returning – there are too few social workers. – Targeted benefits for a random event are a task of social assistance. Only the enormity of the disaster, the enormity of floods, the enormity of damage that was caused to our residents simply exceeded our tasks-admits the head of the Social Welfare Center in Lądek-Zdrój Małgorzata Pajor.
Social employees completely delegated to filter flood victims
OPS in Lądek-Zdrój is not a large center. Four social workers work here in the field. – We are talking about the area of the entire commune of Lądek-Zdrój, i.e. the city of Lądek-Zdrój and adjacent villages, i.e. Stojków, Radochów, Trzebieszowice, Konradów, Orłowiec and Lutynia- explains Małgorzata Pajor.
After the flood, environmental interviews were conducted to the daily activities among the flood -injured persons so that they could get benefits.
– Employees are also overloaded because we are still working. It was so that on September 14, the day before the climax, we were already at work, we worked for over two months without a day off – emphasizes the chief specialist for family benefits Monika Hetak.
– The flood caused that social workers, and we have a handful here, were completely delegated to filter flood victims – says the mayor of Lądek Zdrój Tomasz Nowicki.
Despite the help from other cities, in the first months after the flood, the situation will not be good for a long time, and this is reflected in the inhabitants.
Source of the main photo: Tvn24