Flood. Crisis team meeting. Tusk: in some places we are still in the middle of flood prevention and rescue operations

In Wrocław, at 8 a.m., a crisis team with the participation of the Prime Minister met Donald TuskMinister of Interior and Administration Tomasz SiemoniakMinister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and former head of Ministry of Interior and AdministrationMEP Marcin Kierwiński, who will take up the position of government plenipotentiary for post-flood reconstruction.

Prime Minister Tusk reminded that another meeting with the voivodes will be held on Saturday in order to collect preliminary estimates of losses and costs that will have to be incurred in connection with the reconstruction of places affected by the tragedy. – Minister Kierwiński will try to help us with coordination already at the reconstruction stage, but in some places we are still in the middle of flood prevention and rescue operations – said Tusk.

The head of government announced that together with Marcin Kierwiński he will prepare preliminary legislative proposals.

– There is a lot of work to do there, to make it all lege artis and in accordance with the law. The situation is extraordinary, it requires extraordinary regulations in some aspects. I want us to have everything ready for Tuesday's government meeting and to launch the fastest possible path – the prime minister announced. – The parliament will certainly be in solidarity – he added.

Director of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Robert Czerniawski provided the latest information on the water level in rivers. – In Głogów, the maximum value of the water level on the Oder – 710 centimeters – will appear on Monday morning. This is an increase of about a meter from the current state. In Nowa Sól on Monday afternoon we will have an increase of 180 centimeters from the current state – he reported. – I still maintain the statement that Głogów and Nowa Sól are in a rather worrying state – he emphasized.

He also reminded that smaller towns are still at risk. – What was seen today in Prawikowo, where it was ordered to abandon sealing the embankments. We need to look at these smaller towns and pay special attention to them – he added.

The Lubusz Voivode said that his voivodeship is preparing for the coming flood wave.

– We have advanced preparations for the coming wave. We will accept any number of sandbags, if there are any available somewhere – said voivode Marek Cebula at a meeting of the crisis team.

He reported that intensive work is underway on the embankments in Lubuskie, related to the construction of fortifications and foiling. – The embankments are in such a state that they still require reinforcement – he added.

Cebula also presented a preliminary loss report from Szprotawa, which he received on Friday evening.

– In Szprotawa, where the flood wave has already passed, 11 farm buildings, 60 residential buildings, 12 pumping stations, 14 roads, three historic bridges, five playgrounds, three marinas and one park have been flooded – the Lubuskie Voivode listed. He also reported on the water level in the voivodeship. According to the voivode's data, the alarm level was exceeded by 47 centimetres in Nowa Sól, by 32 centimetres in Cigacice, by 29 centimetres in Nietkowo and by 47 centimetres in Połeck. In Słubice, the water level reached the alarm level and in Kostrzyn nad Odrą the water level is still 114 centimetres below its height.

– This shows how slowly the wave will move towards us – noted Marek Cebula.

The Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, Senior Brigadier Mariusz Feltynowski, said during the meeting of the crisis management team that forces and resources are being transferred to two voivodeships – Lubuskie and Zachodniopomorskie.

– The reports I received from provincial commanders do not indicate a major threat. We are sending back forces from West Pomerania, which were previously in other provinces, and replacing them with forces from the Lesser Poland, Silesian and other locations in the country – Feltynowski said.

He added that the clearing of the road in Lewin Brzeski allowed firefighters to reach a flat fire in the Opole province yesterday. – Two people were evacuated, and two left the building on their own. It was a mother with a three-month-old child – he informed.

He pointed to the provision of drinking water to Głuchołazy as a major problem. – Nine “drinking water systems” were delivered there, which is only suitable for consumption after boiling. Further unblocking of roads is underway so that we can introduce normal functioning of this city – he said.

Informing about the situation in Prawikowo in Wołów district, the senior brigadier said that the levee that is leaking is not the first one, but the second one, and is located 500 meters from the river. He said that in the village “16 houses were suggested for evacuation, and two of them evacuated.”

Read also: “Głogów and Nowa Sól are in a rather worrying state”

Minister of Infrastructure Darius Klimczak said that alternating traffic should be introduced on the closed bridge in Malerzowice Wielkie within a dozen or so hours. This is a section of national road 46 in the Opole province in Nysa county.

– We will probably open one track of the Nysa-Prudnik railway line today. The work is still in progress – the minister said.

– Ścinawa, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Lubin County – road bridge closed until further notice. The water level has risen by 50 centimeters since yesterday. General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways Together with the police, they constantly monitor this facility, Klimczak added.

He also reported that the railway bridge in Ścinawa is open. – It is three meters higher than the road bridge, but this bridge is also constantly monitored by a railway patrol from PKP PLK – the minister informed.

Deputy Chief of Police Roman Kuster said that police helicopters are still helping to strengthen the embankments using big-bag bags.

He also reported another person who committed a theft – this time in Kłodzko.

Officers of the criminal department of the local police detained a 42-year-old resident of the Kłodzko district, equipment worth five thousand zlotys (including surveillance cameras) was recovered.

The police are sending “half-companies of support” to flood areas. 47 police officers are already in the Lubuskie province, which is preparing for the flood wave. – If forces and further support are needed, we will send – Roman Kuster summed up.