Flood Risk to 136 Valencia Municipalities

A total of 136 municipalities across the Valencia region are at risk of flooding. Of those, 48 are at high risk and 88 at medium risk. However, only 20 of those municipalities at risk of flooding have an emergency action plan in place to deal with the problem.

Those municipalities which do have a PAM (Plan de Actuación Municipal) are Alaquàs, Alboraya, l’Alfàs del Pi, Benaguasil, Benicarló, Benicàssim, Beniparrell, Borriana, Canet d’En Berenguer, Càrcer, Cotes, Massanassa, Oliva, Ondara, Orihuela, Palmera, Paterna, Riba-roja del Túria, Silla, El Verger, la Vila Joiosa, Villalonga and Xirivella.

There are also 124 municipalities which are located on flood planes or dams, to date, just 51 municipalities have a PAM in place for this.

The information was released this week by the director general of the agency responsible for public safety and response, José Maris Angel, who wanted to stress to the local governments the importance of being prepared, especially before the September wet season.

Angel says that the planning for flooding is a “fundamental tool in addressing the risk in anticipation of the negative consequences that may affect the safety of citizens”. He also said that his agency will do everything they can to assist municipal councils to achieve this.

In addition, Angel stressed the importance of social media in spreading accurate alerts and these should form part of the emergency plan. In addition, the media also play a vital role in the dissemination of information and should also be included in the activities.