Emergency Communication Reveals Alarming Details Leading Up to Valencia Flooding
On October 29, during the severe weather event known as DANA, the regional secretary for Emergencies of the Generalitat, Emilio Argüeso, shared critical information about the impending catastrophic flooding in Valencia through a WhatsApp message sent at 14:44. He expressed concerns that local ravines were on the verge of collapse. This alarming communication is outlined in a report accessed by EFE, which presents messages exchanged between Argüeso and various officials, mayors, and Emergencies technicians from October 29 to 30.
In response to Argüeso's warning regarding the ravines, Susana Camarero, the first vice president of the Consell and counselor for Social Services, replied at 15:11 expressing her readiness to assist: "Wow. If you need anything, just let us know." By 17:22 that day, she recognized the deteriorating conditions in the Utiel-Requena area and requested to be informed if any developments arose.
In communication with then-counselor of Justice and Interior Salomé Pradas, Argüeso inquired whether she had contacted Valencia's mayor, María José Catalá, about school closures at 09:25. He confirmed that he had not spoken with her yet but would inform her of any updates as directed earlier.
Throughout the day, Argüeso diligently updated his colleagues, including sending a weather report by 12:58 indicating a state of emergency and requesting the mobilization of Forest Firefighters due to hydrological alerts in several areas like Carlet and Torrent. Just a few hours later, when a mayor from Sedaví requested assistance from police from other towns due to increasing needs, Argüeso confirmed he would send support immediately.
At 07:57, Argüeso notified officials that Aemet, the meteorological agency, had just issued a red alert for the southern coastal area of Valencia until 12:00. By 08:00, the alert status was elevated to orange for the northern coastal region, indicating that the situation was rapidly developing.
As the day progressed, communication from Argüeso illustrated the urgency of the crisis, highlighting incidents like trapped vehicles and the closure of the Port of Valencia. Finally, the mass alert message notifying the public, known as EsAlert, reached numerous mobile phones at 20:11, tragically after many of the 228 casualties from the flooding had already occurred.
This sequence of messages underscores the challenges faced by local authorities and the critical nature of timely communication during natural disasters. As the investigation progresses, it remains imperative for the Generalitat officials to reflect on their emergency management responses to prevent future tragedies.
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