Just a few days ago we were fighting against heat and drought, and now we are doing everything to protect ourselves from flooding, inundation and even flooding. Such heavy rainfall used to happen once every few decades – say climatologists, adding that due to climate change such weather may happen more often. On the one hand, we hear that the authorities and services have drawn conclusions from previous floods, retention reservoirs have been built, but on the other – we are concreted over cities, so the water has nowhere to go, hence the threat of flash floods.
In Ostrów Wielkopolski, 50 soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces have entered the action. They are laying a flood embankment along the Ołobok River, because if the alarm level is exceeded, several dozen houses could be flooded.
– The situation is stable and our actions at the moment are of a protective nature – says Capt. Anna Jasińska-Pawlikowska from the 12th Wielkopolska Territorial Defense Brigade. – The forecasts are favorable for us. What worries us are the forecasts of strong winds – admits Beata Klimek, the president of Ostrów Wielkopolski.
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Beata Prusiewicz, the owner of a therapeutic kindergarten, admits that she will breathe a sigh of relief when the threat is completely gone. For now, she is stacking sandbags higher and higher, because during the August downpour, the water destroyed the entire floor. The building is still being dried. The losses amount to over PLN 200,000. – If there is such a flood, it will be impossible to reach my building. (Last time – editor's note) we carried the children out of the window in our arms – the woman recalls.
In nearby Odolanów, where the Barycz alert level was exceeded by 30 centimeters, there is still full mobilization, but less fear. – The threat level that was predicted earlier has now decreased, so it is not a critical place now – informs Agata Sobczyk, the governor of Wielkopolska.
Hydrological warningsIMWM
In the south of Wielkopolska, IMGW alerts covered over 20 counties, and now the second level of downpour threat is still present in the Kępno county. – If something were to happen, we are able to transfer resources and forces – assures Wiesław Szczepański, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration.
The most difficult situation is in the Lower Silesian province. In some places, over 200 liters of water per square meter have fallen. On Sunday, residents will experience a repeat. – Lower Silesia may receive from 70 to 110 liters of water per square meter, and in the southern parts of the Lower Silesian, Opole, Lesser Poland and Silesian provinces – here even 150 liters of water per square meter may fall, so this dangerous situation is really just beginning – informs Grzegorz Walijewski from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management.
How to prepare for a floodTVN24
Climate change is progressing
Just a few days ago, almost all of Poland was facing a hydrological drought, and now extreme rainfall has caused flooding and inundation in the southern part of the country. Lower Boris is responsible for this. Methodologists are also warning of storms.
– A storm can even bring as much precipitation in an hour or two, as the Genoese low brought in one day, so it is worth monitoring the situation, because storms can thwart forecasts and add this water – explains Szymon Walczakiewicz from the Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin. – The Genoese low is a well-known phenomenon for climatologists. It happens once every dozen or so years in our region of the world – emphasizes Prof. Bogdan Chojnicki, climatologist.
Climate change and global warming mean that sudden weather changes and downpours will become more frequent. – Because in a warmer climate, more water evaporates from the oceans and seas. The Mediterranean Sea is exceptionally warm – explains Szymon Malinowski, an atmospheric physicist from the University of Warsaw. – We are not able to say when this will happen, but everything indicates that this huge water pump, which sucks water from the sea and then pours it onto the land, is working more and more efficiently – indicates Prof. Bogdan Chojnicki.
Lądek-Zdrój. Evacuation of residentsTVN24
Need for investment in modern infrastructure
That is why it is necessary to modernize and build critical infrastructure, especially in small towns, where the problem is always the greatest. In Ostrów Wielkopolskie, there are 5 retention reservoirs. To ensure the safety of residents, another eight are needed – the mayor of the city enumerates. – The total costs of adapting critical infrastructure amount to 300 million złoty – says Beata Klimek.
Local government officials explain that ad hoc financial support will not change the situation – systemic solutions are needed. – When the act on the protection of the population is adopted, there will also be money for crisis management, but also for the construction of investments. I think that we will talk about this then – assures the deputy minister of the Ministry of Interior and Administration.
Safety rules during floods and inundationsRCB
Main image source: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński