Up to 150 litres of rain per square metre can fall in the weekend in the Lower Silesian, Opole, Silesian and Małopolska voivodships. Therefore, intensive preparations for flood action have been underway for respective days, including in the Polish Army. “We are on full alert,” says Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish.
On Friday in the General Staff of the Polish Army there was a briefing of the management of the Ministry of Defence due to a hard hydrological situation in the south-western part of the country. According to forecasts of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Śląskie and Małopolskie voivodships in the next 3 days, up to 150 litres of water per square metre can fall, which can lead to local submergence or flooding. – The military is inactive in contact with the services that coordinate operations. A task force of territorial defence troops was established. Operational troops are besides ready, whether for evacuation or engineering activities," said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after the gathering ended.
– Based on the assessment of the situation and the conclusions of the voivodes addressed to the Ministry of DefenceFive task groups have been created to support these voivodships, which at the minute seem to be the most threatened. We are ready to carry out our tasks 24 hours a day – stressed General Stanislaw Czosnek, Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army. More than 2.5 1000 WOT soldiers and operational troops are now ready for flood action. For example, dense construction equipment, floating transporters and boats are available. On the another hand, monitoring of the situation on rivers will be carried out from the decks of military helicopters. The Minister of Defence assured that, if necessary, to help additional soldiers and equipment will be directed.
The request to usage troops in action is to be decided by local emergency staffs. The head of the MON has reported that specified actions have already taken place. Agata Sobczyk, the Greater Poland Voivodeship, has present asked to be separated WOT soldiers to activities in the Barycz River area.
Several hours earlier in Wrocław, a crisis staff was held with the participation of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak. There's no reason to panic today, but There is simply a reason to be full mobilizedso that in those places where any drama can occur, everyone can number on the swift and effective assistance possible," said the head of government after the meeting. – Our infrastructure will pass this exam much better than in the past. The services and people liable for our safety are focused on him and they know that the next fewer days will be full of concentration of forces 24 hours a day," added Prime Minister Tusk.
Preparations for flood action have been ongoing for respective days. In the most endangered areas, dense construction equipment was directed, filled and distributed sandbags. Polish waters prepared retention tanks for the adoption of an exceptionally large amount of water, the operation of hydrotechnical equipment was checked and wind turbines and another obstacles were removed from the riverbeds, which could further tighten the flowing water. Governments and provincial authorities have at their disposal over 125,000 officers of the State Fire Department and members of the Volunteer Fire Service. There are besides police officers in the reserve. – Thank you for the full coordination and solidarity between the voivodships. I am built with this level of mobilisation and readiness to act. We're talking thousands of soldiers., firefighters and policemen," said Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister reported that the crisis teams are besides in contact with the Czech and German authorities, which are besides preparing for the worst case scenario. “I call on everyone to pay peculiar attention to the communications and dispositions of the services and provincial authorities,” added Minister Siemoniak.
