A couple of days after the flooding, a new Volunteer Coordination Center opened in Valencia. One of its programs facilitates transportation to the affected areas for volunteers. Yesterday, they announced that 50 buses will depart from the coordination center daily starting at 7:00 am, with a capacity of 50 people per vehicle. Each group will have clear instructions and assigned tasks to ensure an effective response in each area. Volunteers are instructed to bring water boots or mountain footwear suitable for muddy conditions, protective gloves, a mask, and food and water for the day.
This morning, thousands of people showed up to board a bus, waited patiently to be told which bus to get on and to which location they’d be going that day. Many of them were carrying shovels, brooms, and buckets. The government announced that today’s busses were full of 2,500 volunteers and urged people to come back on the following days.
Another article announced that the many of the roads were clear, bridges have been secured, and logistics bases are operational. The president of the Generalitat Valenciana (regional government) has requested an additional 5,000 federal soldiers to add to the 2,000 already here.
One neighborhood within the city of Valencia, La Torre, was hit hard. Hundreds of people carrying food, water, shovels and brooms are crossing the pedestrian bridge that connects central Valencia with the La Torre neighborhood. Some of the La Torre residents who can get out of their homes are also walking across the bridge to buy food, water, shovels, etc.
Where we live, in the center of Ciutat Vella (Old City), there are a few minor disruptions. Grocery stores are running very low on supplies due to so many people buying supplies to take to volunteer centers. Trash pick-up is not running as usual because some of the routes to the dump stations are blocked. People are being asked to keep their trash inside until the trucks can get back their normal routes. (One of my expat friends posted that she is keeping her compost in the refrigerator for now.) The mayor of Valencia announced a nightly reduction of water pressure from midnight until 6AM to divert fresh water to the affected outlying towns. Our housekeeper was trapped in her apartment for three days because cars piled up against the front of the building prevented the doors from being opened. She and her family were without power for a few days and still don’t have water. I’m in contact with her daily and will provide whatever assistance I can.
The scale and scope of this disaster is enormous. Currently, the estimated number of missing people ranges from several hundred to as many as 1,900. There are some residents complaining about the rescue efforts not being fast enough and some looting is being reported. Spain isn’t perfect, of course, but the solidarity, sense of community, and the bond of people committed to one another and to a common cause is inspiring and heartwarming to watch. I have seriously considered getting on one of those busses, but I’m thinking it might be best to leave the strenuous work to someone who is not approaching middle old age.
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WOW!!!!!!! Thanks for your Update and glad you are OK and in touch with housekeeper et al! I, too, would be very tempted to get on a bus but would probably not be as strong as younger locals who have shown up in amazing numbers (photo!). This is so reminiscent of our Hurricane disasters and the follow up is in Valencia is very Impressive! Keep posting!
J&N. xo
I’m donating blood today because the young, strong people who went to help out reported being so tired are sore that they could barely move – I figure I’d be more of a liability than a help for that particular type of help. Money to the Red Cross, of course! There’s also the World Kitchen folks – I have heard that we can sign up to volunteer there and making sandwiches and passing out food sound like something I could do without injuring myself…