For me, the symbols of this flood were brushes and shovels

The disaster deprived residents of their safety, destroyed homes and places important to the local community. But it also proved to be a test of solidarity. Then the Centre for Education, Tourism and Culture – a place Natalia was involved with for years – became the centre of the aid activities.

The floods took away buildings that seemed indestructible. The police station disappeared, and the chapel of St Onuphrius – recently renovated thanks to the efforts of the local community – was heavily damaged. ‘We went inside and saw massive damage. Only the chandelier remained. It was a symbol of survival when all else collapsed,’ says Natalia visibly moved.

In the wake of the tragedy, Centre for Education, Tourism and Culture turned into a help desk. The facility collected cleaning products, clothes and food. ‘For me, the symbols of this flood were brushes and shovels. In the beginning there were too few, later on – too many of them. This teaches the importance of helping wisely.’

For Natalia herself, the disaster had a particularly personal dimension. Her house was not flooded, but water cut off the electricity for several days. ‘I have a seriously ill son who is on dialysis. Electricity is needed for the cycler to work and the dialysis lasts 12 hours each night. The lack of electricity posed a real threat to my son’s life,’ she says. She was helped by strangers: together with her son, she moved in with strangers who had access to electricity. She will never forget the help she received then.

The trauma of those days is still present. ‘When only it starts to rain heavily, the fear returns. During the floods, everyone was at risk, even those who weren’t flooded,’ Natalia emphasises.

In the face of the flood, Stronie Śląskie lost part of its landscape, but gained something else – people realised that community is their strength. Today, they talk of plaques commemorating the water level and of the model of the town depicting the ‘before and after’ to remind of what was lost. ‘The flood exposed our weaknesses, but also showed that we can act together. And this is what places like Centre for Education, Tourism and Culture are needed for – to have a space where we can meet, support each other and prepare for what may come,’ Natalia concludes.

Natalia’s story is part of the exhibition “Water Mark. One Year After the Flood”, which will be on display at Plac Centralny in Warsaw from September 5 to October 5, 2025. The exhibition features photographs by Aleksander Małachowski (@hashtagalek) as well as photos from PAH’s archives, taken by Alicja Ryś. They show the places affected by the September 2024 flood, as well as the people who received support from PAH. The exhibition is also available HERE.

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Download the Polish Humanitarian Action’s report on post-flood activities.
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