Preparations for flooding after heavy snow thaws in Poland are underway, says PM Tusk.

Police will be on guard against looters if people have to be evacuated, Donald Tusk said Monday after a meeting with Interior Ministry officials and armed forces officers.

“That people are afraid to leave their households increases a risk to their lives. People are waiting for a critical moment before they decide to evacuate. We want them to be assured that the police and other services will guard their belongings effectively against robbery. We hope this will convince them to evacuate quickly,” he said.

Poland is also cooperating with German services, which are working to crush the ice on the Odra river, on the Polish-German border. Authorities warned yesterday that heavy snow fall for over a month in Poland could lead to many rivers overflowing once it thaws, possibly in March or earlier. (jn/pg)