Polish emergency services conduct Vistula River flood drills

Polish emergency services and military units conducted large-scale flood response exercises titled ‘Fala 2026’ and ‘Wielka Woda 2026’ on September 29 and 30. The drills took place in several locations along the Vistula River, including Połaniec, Stężyca, and the Ryki district, simulating scenarios of heavy rainfall and rapid river rises.

Approximately 350 participants from three counties took part in the maneuvers. The exercises involved the State Fire Service, police, medical rescue teams, the Polish Red Cross, and soldiers from the 2nd Territorial Defence Brigade and the 4th Dęblin Sapper Regiment. Key activities included reinforcing flood embankments, sealing leaks, and constructing mobile flood barriers to protect riverside areas and residential settlements near Dęblin and Stężyca.

The drills aimed to test inter-agency cooperation, logistics, and command structures in response to potential threats similar to the major floods experienced in 1997 and 2010. Local officials noted that such training is essential for improving the efficiency of services in preventing damage and managing evacuations during real-world disasters.