Tusk said on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, that, after consulting with Cabinet ministers and emergency services, he had ordered the preparation of a government decree to introduce the emergency measure.
The Cabinet is set to convene in Warsaw on Monday morning.
Jacek Siewiera, head of the Polish president's National Security Bureau (BBN), supported the planned move, calling it the right step to unlock European Union resources through the RescEU mechanism.
RescEU is an emergency reserve funded entirely by the European Union, which includes firefighting aircraft, helicopters, medical evacuation planes, medical supplies and field hospitals. It also provides shelter, transportation, logistics and energy supplies.
According to Siewiera, this mechanism would provide crucial assistance in managing the disaster.
Siewiera also said that flood rescue efforts have already been bolstered by the deployment of Search and Rescue (SAR) coastal stations, and the Racibórz Dolny reservoir has started retaining floodwaters to reduce the impact on areas downstream.
"It’s time for Brussels to show its solidarity, as Poland has done many times during floods, fires and other disasters in the European Union," he added.
Under Poland’s constitution, three types of extraordinary measures can be declared in response to severe threats: martial law, a state of emergency, or a state of natural disaster.
A state of natural disaster can be enacted by the government for up to 30 days, and any extension requires parliamentary approval.
This emergency measure allows local authorities to take control of disaster relief operations and can impose restrictions, including evacuation orders, business closures and limits on public gatherings.
Ukraine offers help
Tusk told reporters on Sunday that the Ukrainian government has offered immediate assistance.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed solidarity with Poland and offered to send 100 rescue workers equipped with specialized flood response equipment, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Tusk said the Ukrainian offer was much appreciated as Poland faces one of its most serious flooding crises in years.
Financial aid is also being mobilized to support flood victims, with the finance ministry preparing emergency funds for those affected by the disaster, according to Tusk.
The government has pledged quick financial support, similar to that provided after severe storms in 2008, when officials say victims received compensation and one-time payments that fully covered their losses.
Soldiers, firefighters, police on full alert for relief efforts: deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who took part in a national crisis management meeting in the southern city of Katowice on Sunday, said that military forces, firefighters and police have been fully mobilized to aid the relief efforts.
Helicopters have been deployed to evacuate people from the most affected areas, including the Kłodzko Valley and Stronie Śląskie.
Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters that the flooding has damaged infrastructure, including bridges and dams, making other forms of evacuation impossible.
He added that air units from the military, police and Mountain Rescue (TOPR) are now critical in evacuating people from the worst-hit areas.
Kosiniak-Kamysz urged residents to follow instructions from authorities and thanked emergency services for their ongoing efforts.
He also called on employers to allow volunteer firefighters and Territorial Defense Forces (WOT) soldiers to take leave from work so they can continue assisting in the disaster response.
In a press briefing, the head of Poland’s water management authority, Wody Polskie, Joanna Kopczyńska, confirmed that the Racibórz Dolny reservoir has started retaining floodwaters, which she said should help protect towns downstream, including Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Opole and Wrocław.
The reservoir, a major flood prevention project completed with support from the World Bank, is now operational for the first time.
Kopczyńska said that the reservoir has a capacity of 185 million cubic meters and that current forecasts predict it will retain up to 166 million cubic meters of floodwater.
However, she cautioned that the situation remains dynamic and urged residents to stay away from the reservoir area for their safety.
Despite the challenging conditions, the government has assured citizens that recovery efforts will be swift.
Interior and Administration Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that damaged infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, would be rebuilt as quickly as possible.
He also reassured citizens that financial aid would be provided to all those affected by the floods, with local authorities managing the distribution of emergency relief funds.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
