Government Assistance Delayed: The Crisis Response During DANA in Valencia
In a recent episode of urgent crisis management, the Valencian Generalitat faced significant delays in accepting assistance from the Government during a harsh weather event known as DANA (a weather phenomenon marked by heavy rainfall).
On the fateful day, the Government delegate in the Valencian Community attempted to offer support four times within a span of just 90 minutes. It wasn't until the fourth call that the regional government accepted the assistance, as detailed in reports by La SER and eldiario. The initial contact efforts were made by Pilar Bernabé to Salomé Pradas, the Regional Minister of Justice and Interior, at three intervals: 12:23 PM, 12:48 PM, and 1:00 PM. These calls came shortly after the AEMET issued a red alert, warning of the risk of the Magro River and Poyo ravine overflowing. Initially, the local leadership under Carlos Mazón declined offers of State resources, believing they could manage the situation independently.
As torrential rains began to batter areas like Requena-Utiel and the Ribera Alta, Bernabé convened a meeting with various emergency services including the UME, Civil Guard, and heads of the state’s road network. The intention was to remain vigilant due to the severe weather expected. Real-time alerts and instructions were disseminated via social media at 8:30 AM, warning the public to prepare for a complicated day ahead.
By 9:30 AM, a meeting was held with mayors in threatened areas to update them on the alerts, a responsibility that fell under the Generalitat’s purview, not the national government's. In response to the dangerous conditions, several municipalities declared a cancellation of classes, with the Ministry of Education providing a continuous update on affected areas.
As the situation progressed, by noon, the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation began relaying concerning news of overflowing riverbeds. Alerts were issued, highlighting the severity of the potential flooding. It was noted that at 12:07 PM, the CHJ communicated a hydrological alert, with the Generalitat following suit with a specific warning for the Poyo ravine at 12:20 PM. The following call offering government assistance occurred just three minutes later.
After 25 minutes, another call was made by the delegate, who learned from the regional minister that she would be relocating to Carlet, a town anticipated to be among the first significantly impacted. The UME took to social media to spread warnings about the flooding and advised on safety precautions. By 2:00 PM, further assistance was again refused, leading to an extended delay in resource deployment.
It wasn't until the fourth outreach attempt that help was begrudgingly accepted, now limited to the Requena-Utiel area. Yet, despite this acceptance of support, the emergency committee meeting called by the regional minister did not take place until after 5:00 PM, lacking necessary operational forces. Around 7:00 PM, after receiving a distressing call from Paiporta’s mayor, who reported observing flooding in her own town, it was proposed that an alert be issued. This crucial step saw a further delay of 30 minutes as decisions were discussed and communicated with Mazón, who had been unavailable due to personal commitments.
The sequence of events highlights critical deficiencies in crisis management and communication from the Generalitat. As local leadership hesitated to tap into state resources until the situation deteriorated markedly, it raises questions about preparedness and decision-making in the face of natural calamities. The DANA incident serves as a reminder of the importance of effective collaboration and timely responses in safeguarding communities during emergencies.
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