State of natural disaster in southern Poland due to floods: What is the government doing and how can you help?

?? The government has declared a state of emergency in parts of the Lower Silesian, Opole, and Silesian regions, including Wa?brzych, Jelenia Góra, and Bielsko-Bia?a, due to severe flooding. Marek Wójcik, an expert from the Association of Polish Cities, explained that this status allows for measures such as evacuations, a ban on price hikes, and the use of equipment to rescue people. The police have reported six deaths so far, but the death toll may rise as the flood has destroyed buildings and swept away cars. Rescue and investigative operations are ongoing.

What are the damages so far: ?

??The dam in Stronie ?l?skie in the K?odzko district has been breached. In G?ucho?azy, the water pressure destroyed a temporary bridge. Access to Stronie ?l?skie and L?dek Zdrój is nearly impossible. Streets in K?odzko are underwater, with water depths ranging from 50 cm to 1.5 meters in flooded parts of the city center. Many areas are being evacuated. On Sunday, 33 patients, including pregnant women and children, were evacuated from a hospital in Nysa, which was cut off by the floodwaters.?

How the government is supporting flood victims in Poland:??

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that around €470 million has been secured for flood relief, and there will be no shortage of funds.??
Immediate, non-repayable financial aid around €2,350 is available.??
Additional non-repayable financial assistance of up to €23,500 is available for home repairs and rebuilding farm structures.??
Non-repayable support of up to €46,900 is available for rebuilding residential homes.??
The government is considering setting official prices for essential products, as prices have surged in the aftermath of the flood. Legal tools are available to revert prices to pre-flood levels.??
Mortgage loans for flood victims will be deferred for 12 months, with the state, through a fund, taking over the repayments.??
A 0% VAT rate has been introduced for donations to flood victims, covering goods like food, clothing, and free services such as accommodation and generator rentals. This tax relief applies from September 12 to December 31, 2024. Businesses can benefit from this measure when donating through public benefit organizations, local governments, or the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves.??
The Minister of Finance announced a postponement of ZUS contribution payments. Businesses affected by the flood will be able to settle their dues next year, without interest.
The Ministry of Labor has introduced the right to 10 days of absence from work for employees from flood-affected areas.
The Minister of Finance announced that work is nearing completion on a regulation extending the payment deadlines for key taxes (VAT, PIT, and CIT) for businesses affected by the flood. The draft is expected to be ready for signing by Thursday.

?? Insurance companies are simplifying claim processes for flood damages.?

Compensation payments can be made within just one day. Insurers have bolstered their teams in southern Poland, set up special hotlines, and are sending claims adjusters to flood-affected areas.??

??Fundraising for flood victims: How you can help:

The Polish Red Cross (PCK) has launched a special fundraising effort to support residents of flooded areas by delivering food, drinking water, hygiene products, and building dryers. (https://zrzutka.pl/naratunekpowodz?fbclid=IwY2xjawFSi6BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSSZ9HFscz9jv5c5MT9sG682FcyffwH8WZ3C-LLO4uYI3e_WmtseDD97Vg_aem_Y-mdMmAAiiZ3FNWPsaWiGg)??
The Siepomaga Foundation launched a fundraising campaign on September 15 to help those affected by the flood. (https://www.siepomaga.pl/powodzie)??
The Pomagam.pl Foundation has also launched a collection for flood victims. (https://pomagam.pl/ts/powodz2024)??
Caritas Polska is collecting money for flood victims through its website. They also accept bulk donations from companies.(https://caritas.pl/powodz/live/)??
Wolt: Donations are being collected through the Finnish company Wolt and are transferred to the Polish Red Cross. (https://wolt.com/en/pol/warsaw/venue/naratunekpowodz-polski-czerwony-krzyz)??
Inpost has initiated a program allowing people to send support packages for free through Paczkomat. These packages go to the PCK warehouse, which distributes them to those in need.? (https://inpost.pl/aktualnosci-wyslij-pomoc-nadaj-paczke-wsparcia#:~:text=W%20odpowiedzi%20na%20tragiczne%20skutki,kt%C3%B3ry%20nast%C4%99pnie%20przekazuje%20je%20potrzebuj%C4%85cym.)??
The Radio ZET Foundation is running the "Heart for Flood Victims" campaign, allowing anyone to participate by sending a charity SMS. (https://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/polska/zbiorka-dla-powodzian-wyslij-sms-serce-na-75-265)??
Ratujemy.pl is supporting animals left without care after the flood. (https://www.ratujemyzwierzaki.pl/powodz-zwierzeta)??

?? How stores are supporting flood victims:

Lidl: Sending trucks with food, drinking water, and hygiene products to Jelenia Góra, G?ucho?azy, and K?odzko. Supporting fire brigades in Prudnik and Legnica, and organizing a nationwide collection of food, water, and hygiene items.??

Biedronka: Coordinating aid deliveries of food and water to G?ucho?azy, Prudnik, K?odzko, and Jelenia Góra. Offering a one-time, non-repayable grant of €330 to employees affected by the flood.??

Kaufland: Supporting emergency services in securing buildings and property, and organizing collections of food, water, and hygiene products in their stores.??

??How PKO Bank is offering help:

PKO Bank Polski is offering support for individual and business clients from flood-affected areas by suspending loan payments for three months, covering mortgages, personal loans, and business loans, with no additional fees. Applications can be submitted from September 23 to the end of October 2024. The bank is working on enabling online applications. Additionally, businesses can benefit from simplified procedures for extending loans, while leasing clients can suspend their principal repayments.??

History of floods in Poland: ?

The biggest flood in Poland occurred from July 5-16, 1997, known as the "millennium flood." It was the largest natural disaster in Poland's post-war history, claiming 56 lives, leaving about 1,500 families homeless, and causing material losses estimated at €3.3 billion. The flood mainly affected southern Poland, with Wroc?aw being the largest city impacted by this catastrophe.?

Author: Maja Korni?owicz