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In a flood-hit Polish town, citizens try to piece their lives back together

As homeowners of the Polish town of Glucholazy struggled to restore what they could from their floodravaged homes on Wednesday, they applauded pals, household and rescue workers for their assistance, but wondered if authorities might have done more. One of ratings of towns across central Europe to be hit by the worst flooding in at least twenty years, Glucholazy has been left with locals' possessions strewn across the roadways amongst piles of mud and other debris.

Maria Ciesla took a look at the devastated remains of her home and assessed what she had lost.

I have grandchildren ... toys that can't be conserved, she told Reuters, her voice breaking up with feeling.

I don't understand, these little things are sometimes more crucial than the big things.

Nevertheless, amidst the devastation, she spoke warmly of the assistance she had actually gotten in the local neighborhood.

I see there is hope, she said. They serve dinners here ... they offer water.

Others struck a more crucial tone. Bronislaw Lesnik, a. 75-year-old pensioner, stated he was having trouble getting. assistance from his insurance service provider and the regional council.

I asked (the mayor) to provide me a digger, since there is. at least 300 lots of sand here, if not more ... we live, but. there is no assistance from the city authorities yet, he stated.

The Polish defence ministry stated more than 14,000 soldiers. had actually been deployed to flood-hit regions, along with thousands of. policemen and equipment. The jail service showed images of. inmates helping to strengthen floodwalls.

However, other Glucholazy homeowners grumbled about lack of. preparations for the flood.

The Czechs obviously already revealed it on Monday, but. nothing occurred here. They knew there. I didn't see. any preparations here, absolutely nothing, another homeowner, Elzbieta. Prochop said.

(source: Reuters)