Devastating Flood in Poland: Oblate Community Among Those Affected

Originally Published on OMIWORLD.ORG

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By Michał Jóźwiak

Poland is facing severe flooding after heavy rains in early September caused rivers to overflow and destroy homes and communities.

Many residents have lost everything

The hardest-hit areas are in the southern part of the country, where many residents have lost everything. Among those affected is the Oblate community in Bodzanów, a small village near Kraków in the southern region of Poland. Heavy rains have led to dangerous conditions across many parts of the country for several days. Some regions have been without power or clean drinking water, with residents stranded in upper-story windows or rooftops awaiting rescue. Black Hawk helicopters and emergency teams have been dispatched to evacuate those in the most critical areas. 

This is a huge tragedy for the people of Bodzanów

The Oblate house in Bodzanów suffered significant damage when the floodwaters reached a height of 120 centimeters (about four feet) inside the building. The ground floor, including corridors and the kitchen, was hit the hardest. “This is a huge tragedy for the people of Bodzanów, the parishioners, and our monastery,” said Polish Provincial Marek OCHLAK, OMI. “I ask for solidarity with our brothers. We are supporting them as much as possible.”

In response, the Oblate congregation has launched a fundraiser to assist parishioners and the wider community in Bodzanów. The money will also help the monastery get back to normal. The Catholic Church and aid organizations have mobilized efforts to support flood victims across the country. Other cities, including Wrocaw, one of the largest cities in southwestern Poland, are preparing for the possibility of flooding. Residents and parishes are filling sandbags and moving valuable items to higher floors to prevent further damage. In Wrocław, the local Oblate parish has also begun evacuating items to protect them from rising waters.

In times like this, unity makes all the difference

For many Poles, this disaster brings back memories of the “flood of the millennium” that devastated the country in July 1997. That historic flood left 56 people dead and caused material losses estimated at around $3 billion. Around 7,000 people lost their homes, and 40,000 saw their life’s work washed away. The floodwaters damaged or destroyed over 2% of Poland’s land area. As Poland faces these floods, communities and the Catholic Church are uniting to help. The Oblate community in Bodzanów, like others, relies on the generosity of those around them. In times like this, unity makes all the difference.