CITY UNDER WATER

For almost 300 years Gdansk has not been flooded. So it was seriously threatened in the beginning of July this year. Mobilisation of all city institutions was accompanied by common engagement of hundreds and later thousands of volunteers from Gdansk NGOs. During this powerful rain it became clear that city forces alone would not do.

Three Gdansk wards were flooded at the same time. To react, one needed support and resources from outside the city. Mainly heavy equipment and firemen, police and other city wardens and the army were needed. For 24 hours round the clock for many days skills and competence of brave rescuers had been tested. Simultaneously, the city was an arena of efforts connected with logistics striving at securing thousands of temporary dwellings and food for the victims and for the rescuers. Providing medical assistance, help to the handicapped, support to the elderly, first aid to all in need-these are only a few examples of wide spectrum of actions taken in this situation of realistic danger on such a scale. As in similar situations in the world, not all the links in this chain worked well. Some of them had to be modified on sight during the flood. Hopefully, other mistakes shall be eliminated when the thorough analysis shows the reasons and consequences of the mistakes made.

The end of flood in Gdansk means the beginning of redevelopment of infrastructure in the wards which suffered most. Rescue action among the citizens continues with finding new dwellings and social benefits to thousands of those who lost their flats. On the other hand, the end of flood is a message to many environments that the city is ready for new capital investment and is a kind of confirmation of its tourist attractiveness.

The end of July unfortunately faced the beginning of flood in other regions of Poland. Gdansk citizens who suffered from the long lasting rain, knew how disastrous it could be and what human suffering was. Three weeks after the flood in Gdansk, its citizens launched the solidarity action for flood victims from other regions of Poland.

It is worth using the time between the events for analysing and evaluating of the taken decisions in July. No one knows when we shall be experienced by disasters again...

For more information about the flood , please go to http://www.ngo.org.pl or http://pomoc.ngo.org.pl.