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Valencia DANA Storm: Delayed Warning and Communication Failures

Delayed warning of the DANA storm in Valencia due to communication failures between regional and central governments resulted in significant loss of life.

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Spanish

Spain

Climate ChangeEnergy SecurityNatural DisasterGovernment ResponseCommunicationResponsibilityEmergency Alert

Valencian GovernmentMinistry For The Ecological TransitionConfederación Hidrográfica Del Júcar (Chj)Centro De Coordinación Operativo Integrado (Cecopi)

Hugo MoránSalomé PradasMiguel PoloCarlos MazónFernando Grande-Marlaska

What caused the delay in the warning about the DANA storm in Valencia?: The delayed warning about the DANA storm in Valencia was due to a late call from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, at 8 PM on October 29th, warning of a potential dam break.
When was the public alert issued, and how long after the critical situation?: The emergency alert was sent to the public at 8:11 PM, after Morán's call, although it took longer to reach some areas. This was more than an hour after the Poyo overflowed and caused significant damage.
What was the primary cause of the flooding, and why was there a communication failure?: The main cause of the flooding was not the dam, but the overflow of the Barranco del Poyo, which the CHJ failed to communicate effectively, according to the Valencian government.
What was the status of the ES-Alert system during the incident, and what actions have followed?: The ES-Alert system, which was used more extensively after the incident, was not yet part of the official protocols at that time, leading to calls for protocol revisions.
Who does the Valencian government blame for the situation and what is the central government's response?: The Valencian government points to the lack of timely information from the CHJ and the late alert as reasons for the severity of the situation, while the central government emphasizes the regional government's responsibility for emergency management.

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