Poland is ready for tough weather conditions in next 48 hours - minister
The Polish interior minister has said that Poland's services are on high alert as, according to experts, the next 48 hours will be very challenging due to torrential rain sweeping across large parts of the country and possible flash flooding.
"We expect all state services as well as local government services to fully cooperate," Tomasz Siemoniak told reporters on Tuesday evening. He also voiced hope that the collaboration of state services, the assistance offered by local governments and the commitment of citizens, just like during last September's floods, would bring about good results.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who attended the same press conference, declared that the armed forces were prepared for possible results of heavy rains.
"The armed forces are ready," Kosiniak-Kamysz repeated, adding that their readiness level had been raised in seven Polish provinces in the southern, eastern and central parts of the country.
The defence minister added that the Territorial Defence Forces (WOT) would be sent to all places where the potential threat was very high.
Siemoniak also said that services had been monitoring water levels in rivers and that there was no threat at the moment but warned that, despite weeks-long drought, the situation might change rapidly.
He declared that the Government Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS) was ready to offer aid where it would be needed. "We are prepared for operations designed to ensure communication services and for evacuations," he said, urging residents to follow information published by reliable media and government institutions.
The press conference was also attended by Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak and Government commissioner for flood relief programme, Marcin Kierwinski.
Poland’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has issued severe rain alerts for several regions, warning of heavy rainfall caused by the Genoa Low. These alerts are in effect from Tuesday evening until Thursday evening. (PAP) at/mf
