By Katarzyna Chojnacka, Senior Communications Specialist at Help.NGO
After years of deploying to crisis zones around the world, I never expected to be called to action in my homeland. Yet, in mid-September, I found myself heading to Lower Silesia, a region in southern Poland battered by the worst floods in decades. Torrential rains had overwhelmed dams and reservoirs, unleashing floods that swallowed entire towns, leaving devastation in their wake.
Upon receiving the news, our team at Help.NGO immediately mobilized. We gathered essential equipment—drones for aerial mapping, satellite terminals to restore communication, power banks, and edge computing devices to process data quickly. We embarked on a cross-country journey, determined to bring aid to the hardest-hit areas in the southwest.
Witnessing Unimaginable Destruction
The severity of the disaster became painfully clear as we entered the flood zones. Bridges were washed away, and power lines stood like ghostly relics in the water. In towns like Stronie Śląskie, I met residents who were trying to salvage their homes from layers of thick mud. One woman, standing in front of a collapsed building, recalled how the dam had burst without warning. “It happened so fast,” she said, gesturing to the wreckage of a store where she had shopped just a day before.
In Kłodzko, Stronie Śląskie, Lądek Zdrój, and Głuchołazy, local crisis teams were doing all they could to manage relief efforts, despite being overwhelmed. In the Kłodzko Town Hall, I spoke with two coordinators who, despite their exhaustion, worked tirelessly to direct aid. "We need more support in other towns," one said, radioing out for help, but receiving no response. Even amid the chaos, the resilience of the community and their unwavering collaboration stood out.
Bolstering the Emergency Response
Providing Hot Meals
Our team quickly set to work, supporting the first responders—volunteers, firefighters, and civil defense personnel—who had been on the ground since the floods began. Many had gone without a proper break in days, so we provided hot meals to keep them going. These responders were the backbone of the relief efforts, and we were proud to play a role in keeping them energized and focused.
Mapping Flood Zones
One of our key contributions was using drones to map the most heavily damaged areas. In towns like Kłodzko and Głuchołazy, we focused on riverbanks and critical infrastructure. After meeting with the Vice Mayor and the town’s engineering team, we expanded our mapping efforts to cover the entire area. This data—3D models and digital elevation maps—would allow officials to assess the damage, plan future relief, and aid in long-term recovery. One local official emphasized the importance of this effort, explaining, "In the center of town, the damage is visible, but on the outskirts, it’s harder to see what’s really happened."
Reconnecting Isolated Communities
In Lądek Zdrój, we worked with the mayor's office to distribute Starlink internet terminals to cut-off communities. These satellite terminals were a lifeline, enabling local crisis managers to communicate their needs and request equipment from central authorities.
Distributing Critical Aid Packages
Our efforts didn’t stop at communication and mapping. We also distributed essential aid packages to those in need. These included headlamps, dehumidifiers, cleaning supplies, and loudspeakers for emergency notifications. By providing these vital tools, we aimed to help local communities begin the daunting process of cleaning up and rebuilding.
Looking Ahead
The road to recovery for these communities will be long, but the work we've begun—providing maps, reestablishing communications, and distributing critical supplies—lays the foundation. Most inspiring, however, has been the resilience of the people we've encountered. Despite the devastation, there's a palpable determination to rebuild and help one another.
During our work in Kłodzko, we encountered a man who, despite losing his tractor and equipment in the floods, remained optimistic. Offering us directions down an unmarked road, he embodied the spirit of these communities. Their strength, coupled with the ongoing efforts of organizations like Help.NGO, will be the key to Poland’s recovery from this disaster.
This mission is not just another deployment for us—it is deeply personal. Together, we are committed to making a difference, one step, one map, one community at a time.
To learn more about Help.NGO's response to the devastating floods in Poland, see the full report here: https://www.help.ngo/_files/ugd/195621_1abef188c3af4fe3b32b5705f823796a.pdf?index=true
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