The head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, believes that Polish satellite radar imaging technologies were used too late to detect the mass flooding enveloping parts of the country and that “conclusions will have to be drawn from this later.”
“It is not yet the time to deal with the political narrative around the flood, rescue operations are crucial now,” Siewiera said on TV Republika, although he did make sure to bring up some criticisms and make at least one jab at the left.
Siewiera emphasized that the government must understand the need for appropriate prediction and detection systems, including the use of satellite technologies, adding that Poland’s experimental radar technology was only used on Saturday.
“This technology has the ability to penetrate cloud cover, the ability to assess water depth using radar imaging,” he noted.
Calling out the current left-liberal government in power, he also recalled that in the matter of retention reservoirs in Racibórz, the right wing of the political scene was accused of megalomania, and yet it is this investment that will make the biggest difference between the flood in 1997 and the current one.
Poland faced mass flooding over the weekend, devastating areas in the south and west of Poland, forcing evacuations, and leaving at least four people dead. The government has since declared a state of natural disaster.
The head of the National Security Bureau further explained the importance of various volunteer organizations for mobilizing people when extra defenses are needed, as well as the role of communications and the technologies currently in use.
“How (do) we make predictions? (Do) we use modern tools for this purpose, such as algorithmization of data collected using satellites, but also data from weather stations, information from partner services, or (do) we rely on technologies from two decades ago?” Siewiera asked, adding that investments in the data algorithmization system should be viewed as investments in security.
In the meantime, it has been posted on X that Elon Musk’s Starlink systems are being deployed in Poland to restore emergency services.
