Flood emergency services in Poland. The Ministry of Interior and Administration openly addresses the threat.

On Sunday evening, July 27, Bielsko-Biała authorities decided to implement a flood alert. Mayor Jarosław Klimaszewski announced the decision after the crisis management team analyzed the meteorological and hydrological situation.

"A crisis management team met earlier. Continuous, sometimes heavy rainfall is being reported in the Bielsko-Biała area. Emergency services are monitoring the Biała River, streams, and critical areas, including the area around the spectacle bridge on Konwaliowa Street. Residents of at-risk areas should carry a charged phone and medication, and move their belongings to higher floors. RCB alerts have been sent," President Klimaszewski announced.

To protect residents' property, city officials began distributing sandbags. They primarily targeted residents of Lipnicka Street 72 and Reksia Street 6, where the risk of local flooding is highest.

Territorial Defence Forces, firefighters and cadet schools on standby

In the face of the growing threat, state and provincial services remain fully mobilized. Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński admitted during his Monday morning address that while the situation turned out to be somewhat less dramatic than predicted, it still requires full commitment.

"Fortunately, and I don't mean this to reassure you, the worst forecasts haven't materialized, although this doesn't absolve us from full monitoring and the involvement of the services. I know that the situation is truly difficult in several places. I'm talking about Bielsk County, the Wapiennica and Biała rivers. Reserves have been activated for the Territorial Defence Forces, the fire department, and cadet schools. Today we will receive reports from all the services and voivodes and will make further decisions," noted the Minister of Interior and Administration.

A meeting of the Government Crisis Management Team has been taking place at the ministry's headquarters since morning, where reports from services from the regions most affected by the rainfall are being analyzed.

IMWM alerts and warnings: rainfall up to 150 mm

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has been monitoring a storm front moving across the southern part of the country for several days. Since Sunday, second-degree warnings have been in effect for thunderstorms and heavy rain, as well as first- and second-degree warnings for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

The most serious warning – level III – applies to southern Poland, including mountainous areas, where heavy rainfall may lead to sudden high water levels and flooding of low-lying towns.

Institute spokeswoman Agnieszka Prasek said that "the forecast rainfall total will be up to 150 mm," which means there is a risk of flooding in areas already saturated with water. Such a large amount of rain in a short period of time could lead to serious flooding, especially in the catchment areas of small rivers and streams.

A night full of anxiety

On Sunday evening, Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Wiesław Leśniakiewicz warned that the coming night would be particularly difficult for residents of southern Poland.

"The night from Sunday to Monday will be difficult for many residents, mainly in southern Poland — the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the Opole Voivodeship, the Silesian Voivodeship, as well as parts of the Świętokrzyskie and Łódź Voivodeships," he noted.

In many towns, firefighters responded to flooded properties, basements, and roads. Local governments took precautionary measures to limit the effects of potential flooding, including distributing sandbags and securing municipal infrastructure.

Waiting for clearing

Weather forecasts offer some hope—meteorologists predict that precipitation may ease as early as Tuesday, with more clear spells expected mid-week. However, until conditions return to normal, residents of the south must prepare for more challenging weather.

The services urge people not to ignore alerts and messages, to secure their property, to avoid staying in areas at risk of flooding and to be vigilant when contacting rivers and streams.

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