Urgent Calls and Delayed Action: A Closer Look at Valencia's Flood Response Crisis

Thursday 07 November 2024 - 11:13

On October 29, as severe weather conditions unleashed devastating floods in Valencia, the Government Delegate, Pilar Bernabé, made three urgent calls to Salomé Pradas, the regional Minister of Justice and Emergency Management. These calls were made prior to the Generalitat's request for assistance from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), highlighting a concerning delay in response during a critical situation.

Bernabé, alerted to the rising waters of the Magro River near Utiel and forecasts of torrential storms, communicated the seriousness of the situation to Pradas. She emphasized that all necessary resources could be requested to manage the crisis effectively. Following early warnings from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Bernabé convened emergency management officials, including representatives from the UME, to monitor developments closely.

After receiving notifications about potential overflow from local waterways shortly after noon, Bernabé reached out again to Pradas, who indicated she would assemble her emergency team at their headquarters in l’Eliana. As conditions worsened, Bernabé made a third call around 12:48 PM, only to find that the Generalitat had yet to mobilize resources. It was not until shortly after 2 PM, following a fourth conversation, that Pradas finally requested UME's deployment to Utiel.

The situation was further exacerbated by statements from María Isabel Albalat, the mayor of Paiporta. She recounted her personal plea to Bernabé as her town began flooding. Albalat expressed frustration over the delayed alerts and lack of preparedness, stating that by the time official warnings were issued around 8 PM, many residents were already in dire circumstances.

Albalat claimed she was not included in earlier emergency discussions held around 9:30 AM among local mayors and government officials. She noted that although she attempted to alert authorities about the imminent danger facing her community, her concerns went unaddressed until it was nearly too late.

This unfolding crisis has raised critical questions about coordination and communication between local and national authorities during emergencies. The apparent disconnect has sparked outrage among residents and officials alike, as they grapple with the consequences of delayed responses and inadequate preparations amidst severe weather events.