In recent decades, Poland has experienced various public security threats that met the criteria for introducing a state of natural disaster, both nationwide and in specific regions. Among the most significant were the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant catastrophe, the so-called “Millennium Flood,” and the COVID-19 pandemic. These phenomena affected social and economic life as well as the functioning of public institutions, exposing shortcomings in the response to emerging threats. Despite the scale and intensity of many of these events, none of the three states of emergency provided for in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 were formally introduced, which illustrates a certain caution on the part of the authorities in employing this instrument. The situation changed only in 2024, when extraordinary powers were invoked in areas affected by flooding. This decision proved crucial for the efficiency of rescue operations, the coordination of public administration, and the protection of citizens’ lives and property. An analysis of the experiences from this period indicates that consistent and deliberate application of the instrument of a state of natural disaster can substantially contribute to enhancing public security and improving the effectiveness of crisis management in the face of future threats.