The severe weather hit the municipality of Dynów last week, with hailstones as large as tennis balls damaging roofs, facades, and smashing windows. The storm, which lasted about 25 minutes, left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Residents have placed losses in the tens of thousands of zlotys, with local authorities pledging assistance for those affected.
Hailstorm devastation
The storm caused significant damage across multiple counties, including Rzeszów, Jarosław, Przemyśl, Przeworsk, and Brzozów. Over 2,700 firefighters were involved in the emergency response in the affected areas.
A resident of the municipality said that his home suffered significant damage, including holes in the roof, destroyed facades, and ruined photovoltaic panels. His neighbors lost 20 hectares of corn, while another friend lost 30 hectares.
Other farmers also faced severe losses, with some reporting up to 100% damage to their crops. “Everything on the fields is beaten down. The corn is broken, the grain is flattened. There is nothing left,” a farmer told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Wojciech Piech, the mayor of Dynów, confirmed the damage, stating that no house in Harta remained unscathed. He mentioned that the total damage affected around 700 homes. The local government has announced aid for the victims and provided details on the financial assistance available.
Relief efforts
Two special commissions began assessing the damage on Tuesday. One commission is gathering documentation in the field, while the other is collecting applications from residents to facilitate the distribution of financial aid.
Podkarpackie province authorities announced three types of financial aid: immediate relief of up to 6,000 zlotys (€1392), up to 100,000 zlotys (€23,210) for agricultural building repairs, and up to 200,000 zlotys (€46,420) for house reconstruction.
