The recent DANA (cut-off low, a severe autumn storm system) that hit Spain has exposed a worrying reality: 160 Andalusian municipalities, including Manilva, lack the emergency plans needed to deal with natural disasters. Although extreme weather events like this are becoming more frequent because of climate change, many Andalusian municipalities still do not have the basic tools to protect their residents.
Manilva, like another 159 municipalities, is in a vulnerable position in the face of an adverse incident. Without a local emergency plan, the ability to respond to a crisis is seriously compromised. What does this mean? That in the event of another DANA, residents of Manilva could find themselves unprotected, not knowing how to act or who to turn to, delaying the activation of protocols that other municipalities have already established and defined.
Why is it so important to have a local emergency plan?
These plans determine how to deal with emergencies that occur exclusively within one town, since once they extend beyond its territory the regional administration takes over management of the crisis. As well as identifying potential risks and cataloguing existing resources, they must set out the organisational structure for dealing with a problem and determine how the population is warned..
Responsibility lies with the town hall
Although the Junta de Andalucía has promoted the creation of these plans, the final decision rests with the town halls. Despite the efforts made, there are still many municipalities that have not met this obligation. The case of Manilva is a clear example of this situation.
What is being done to resolve this problem?
In the face of the growing threat of DANA events and other extreme weather phenomena, the Andalusian authorities are taking action. The creation of the Agencia de Seguridad y Gestión Integral de Emergencias (Agency for Security and Comprehensive Emergency Management) has been announced, with a budget of 260 million euros. In addition, a new map of flood-risk areas is being drawn up to inform residents of the risks they are exposed to.
It is essential that town halls such as Manilva’s prioritise the safety of their residents and bring themselves up to date on civil protection, as a rapid, professional response to any disaster can be crucial for all residents.
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