At the helm of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak announced that, following a formal request from the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and after consultations with the Prime Minister, a decision was made to suspend a portion of the mayoral powers in Stronie Śląskie and Lądek-Zdrój. In the same move, Brigadier General Michał Kamieniecki was appointed to lead crisis management in both communities. The measure was framed as a targeted effort to strengthen administrative response during the flood aftermath and to ensure rapid, well-coordinated action on the ground. The minister emphasized that central supervision would guide the crisis response while local authorities continued to engage with residents and coordinate relief operations where feasible.
During the crisis management team meeting, Siemoniak described the decision as part of an initiative to radically improve administrative activities in the two towns. He noted that the flood events had exposed gaps in local governance and that enhanced central coordination was essential to safeguard residents, restore essential services, and accelerate relief efforts. The announcement signaled a shift in frontline leadership and a commitment to align local action with national emergency protocols, all while keeping communities informed about the evolving plan and its legal basis.
Decision to suspend some of the powers
Siemoniak explained that the suspension was issued at the Lower Silesian Voivodeship’s request, after consultations and the prime minister’s recommendation, and that it applied to parts of the mayors’ authority related to crisis management and flood-response measures. The central aim was to expedite decision-making, unify command, and ensure a swift, law-abiding response to the ongoing emergencies in Stronie Śląskie and Lądek-Zdrój. This adjustment was described as temporary and proportional to the gravity of the situation. The minister stressed that the move is designed to enhance coordination with state services and to remove bottlenecks that can slow relief work during critical moments.
This concerns crisis management and measures to eliminate the consequences of flooding
According to the minister, the changes cover leadership and operational decisions needed to coordinate rescue operations, allocate resources, and implement repairs of infrastructure damaged by the floodwaters. The emphasis was on ensuring that state-level support could be mobilized quickly while local authorities maintained oversight of day-to-day municipal services where possible. Siemoniak stated that the aim was to streamline coordination and minimize delays in handling the flood’s aftermath and to ensure transparent communication with residents about progress and next steps.
Following a discussion with the Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, the minister announced the appointment of Brigadier General Michał Kamieniecki as the designated manager for crisis-related tasks in both municipalities. Kamieniecki’s mandate was framed as a government support initiative—one designed to coordinate resources, guide administrative action, and ensure that state capabilities are directed to local needs with maximum efficiency.
Kamieniecki “represents the government”
Siemoniak added that Kamieniecki is not a commissioner under the Municipal Self-Government Act. Rather, he is a government representative tasked with aiding effective governance during the emergency. Officials and employees in Stronie Śląskie and Lądek-Zdrój were urged to comply fully with the scope defined in the decision and with Kamieniecki’s directives. The minister stressed that Kamieniecki represents the government and that his primary mission is to help residents by coordinating assistance and removing obstacles to relief work. The arrangement is presented as a bridge between central authority and local execution, aimed at delivering timely services and restoring normalcy in the shortest possible time.
Mayors will return to their full duties when central authorities determine that conditions permit a return to standard governance. The current setup is described as temporary and designed to stabilize emergency operations, protect public safety, and rebuild trust in local administration during a period of crisis.
Dramatic attraction. ‘The services are on the doorstep’
The response followed a dramatic appeal from a resident of Stronie Śląskie who described the city as unprepared to manage a crisis of this magnitude. The resident warned that the city administration lacked the capacity to handle the evolving emergency and that specialists were needed to guide the crisis response. The message underscored the urgency of external leadership to coordinate services, communications, and relief efforts, and to ensure that residents receive timely help where it is most needed.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear Prime Minister. This city is not ready for crisis management. The city government is not ready for crisis management. We need specialists here who can manage the crisis, the resident asserted, highlighting the practical hurdles faced by residents and service providers. The caller described services at the doorstep that were not functioning as expected, with communications lines down and coordination gaps hampering relief work.
Services are on the doorstep and don’t know what to do because no one is managing them. Residents are fighting for their rights, but many services are sitting because they don’t know what to do. We want to ask local governments not to be afraid to admit that they can’t handle it. They are cut off from the world; they can’t communicate, the phones don’t work and the internet doesn’t work, the resident continued.
Please send someone here who is involved in crisis management. Who can tell the services what to do, where to go, how to help, because there is simply chaos here, the resident added.
The dramatic appeals from Stronie Śląskie underscored the necessity of centralized oversight to bridge gaps in local capacity and to mobilize state resources for rapid relief and recovery. The episode highlighted the government’s willingness to step in when communities face severe weather-induced disruptions that overwhelm local administration.
This summary reflects reporting from a Polish news outlet and is presented to provide a clear, factual account of the evolving response to the flood situation.