THE BIG WATER
In early July 1997 torrential rains afflicted south-western Poland. For several days the daily precipitation reached the usual monthly average. As a result, a nine metre flood wave on the Oder river passed through the region. Over 3000 square kilometres of arable land and more than 500 villages and towns were under water; 59 people lost their lives. It was the worst flooding in Poland’s 1000-year history, and meteorologists estimated that such a catastrophic rain is likely to happen only once in 25 thousand years. Nevertheless a mere four years had passed when a flood of comparable scale occurred on the Vistula river. Both in 1997 and in 2001 pictures of homes and buildings ravished by turbulent waters were flashed around the world and so were the scenes of often futile efforts to keep the Oder, the Vistula and their countless tributaries within their beds, as the waters flowed northwards towards the Baltic Sea. For people who lost their homes and livelihoods it was a real tragedy. Though many of them received some kind of financial assistance to ease the burden, it will be many years before they can return to normal life. At the same time it will cost a lot to rebuild the damaged infrastructure - roads, bridges, railways, electric and gas networks. All this raises the question of what measures ought to be taken to minimise the effect of similar natural disasters in the future. Swift and practical action is required now. First of all the underfinanced water management system should be upgraded. Apart from new dykes, dams, and reservoirs, an early warning network, consisting of computerised meteorological stations, is also necessary. Last but not least afforestation of mountain slopes, as well as restoring swamp areas, will help to accumulate rain water and thus to reduce the extent of floods.

1. How vast was under the water in Poland in 1997?
2. Which rivers were responsible for the flood?
3. How long does it take to restore the towns and villages after the flood?
4. What has to be rebuilt?
5. Is it possible to prevent this kind of disasters?