Usually, everyone does their own thing. But then, everyone was together

Initially, no one knew what to do. ‘There was no information,’ Karolina recalls. ‘People were standing, watching. And then all of a sudden everyone started running, carrying things out, securing what they could’.  Water broke into the streets Karolina knows since childhood. Many residents lost their livelihoods. Karolina remembers the moment when help arrived. ‘People from other cities came. They had wellingtons, shovels, gloves. They were simply entering houses and helping. They cleaned up the mud, carried out the furniture. Without asking questions, free of charge.’

For her, flood was also a lesson of the neighbourly solidarity. ‘Usually, everyone is focused on their own business. But then… We were all together. If someone had a power generator, they gave it to their neighbours so they could plug something in. If someone had more food, they shared. No one cared whether the person in need is someone close or a stranger.’

The library also played an important role during the flood. ‘As soon as the army helped us clean it, we disinfected the library and organised a food dispensary there. This point operated for months, manned solely by our staff and people of goodwill,’ she recalls. ‘People came to warm up, have a cup of tea, get some peace and quiet. You could also make calls there, as they had a land line. It was the kind of place where you went to take a break from all the chaos.’

Shortly afterwards, the building was renovated thanks to a grant programme of the Polish Humanitarian Action. The new shelving was made of metal so that no water would harm it. The wall was wallpapered with animals, including a hen – Karolina’s spirit animal. Today, the library has an unusual look. It’s designed to be a place where you can pleasantly spend time. Everything here was designed by Karolina.

‘The best thing that happened after the flood – if anything good can come out of it at all – is the great sense of community,’ adds Karolina. She then emphasises her attachment to the place where she lives: ‘I’m at home here. If I were to leave, it would be as if someone uprooted me.’

Karolina’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 4, 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.

Do you like the photos from the exhibition? Donate any amount to photographer Aleksander Małachowski’s fundraiser and receive 6 photos selected by him! After making a donation, you will automatically receive an email with the photos ready to download.
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Download the Polish Humanitarian Action’s report on post-flood activities.
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