Spain floods : apocalyptic scenes, collapsed phone networks and roads, three days of mourning declared after dozens killed
Posted by evermorecoffee@reddit | PrepperIntel | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Some heartbreaking scenes out of Spain today after what is essentially a year’s worth of rain fell in a couple of hours.
The country is experiencing the worst flash floods in three decades, with entire towns and cities impacted, most notably Valencia (Spain’s 3rd most populated city with 2.5M people in the metropolitan area). There are countless missing.
Rurally, several animal shelters and farm operations have been impacted (especially around Valencia and in Andalucia) from what I have seen personally on social media, and there have been fatalities.
Apparently, in some areas, civil protection did not warn citizens ahead of time even though there had already been episodes of flash flooding reported, so many were not able to prepare adequately, get off the roads or seek refuge.
evermorecoffee@reddit (OP)
As more of a new prepper myself, events like these highlight the importance of being aware of potentially disrupting weather events around me and ensuring I plan adequately.
The authorities may very well be unable to warn me in time. I feel like unforeseen climate events are one of the more likely and unpredictable things to happen to any of us with the slowing of the AMOC and shifting weather patterns…
1Squid-Pro-Crow@reddit
But, if an event is unforseen, how would we be able to keep ourselves updated (while bypassing potentially flawed warning systems which also may not catch it)
caveatlector73@reddit
Depending on how the election goes I use the NOAA app. If NOAA is disbanded or taken over by by the for profit Accuweather that will also impact intelligence on weather events.
I don't think poor government response is inevitable, nor was it shown to be the case with Milton and Helene despite the house led funding snafus. Making these types of programs non-partisan the way the CBO is could go a long way toward making them more effective and thus actually serving constituents. Regardless of how you vote disaster response it key because it effects everyone - regardless of how they vote..
MacLafferty@reddit
Organizations like NOAA are already non-partisan, so I’m not sure how you’d make them more so short of pandering to the party which apparently does not give a shit about science…
caveatlector73@reddit
I think you missed something.
When Trump was in office he had the founder of Accuweather Joel Meyers in charge and it was a huge controversy.
Project 2025, a collection of public policy proposals issued by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, includes a document titled "Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise" that calls for breaking up and downsizing NOAA and fully commercializing NWS forecasting operations headed by ... Joel Meyers.
Not everyone wants something as critical to prepping as weather forecasting to be privatized in a partisan way by someone who has a history of misleading on climate disruption.
As always, people are welcome to believe however they believe, but some people prefer a scientific basis for their NOAA app.
are-e-el@reddit
Imagine not getting life saving weather alerts because you’re not subbed to NOAA+
monos_muertos@reddit
I watched a conservative bent documentary on the Carolinas and East Tennessee and how the FEMA response has been botched. Lots of truth of the extent of the horror, completely missing the point that poor government response is inevitable, because we're not living in a world built for these events.
evermorecoffee@reddit (OP)
That is exactly one of the things that has me worried - most governments are not prepared to deal with these events. I think they’re not even prepared to warm citizens adequately… and to communicate and organize efficiently in the aftermath.
anonononononnn9876@reddit
My small neighborhood is in the middle of a “100 year flood”
There was NO warning, the lake nearby got high one after long and the water was slowly pooling around the road by evening and the next day I got up to go to work and it was waist deep on the road and a car was stuck. I called 911 and the PD was oblivious that it was going on. My husband and I spent two days kayaking in and out to get sandbags for us and neighbors and try to move everything as high as possible before finally leaving. The water was almost 6 feet deep at the back of our lot and it’s filled with snakes and gators now.
It was another WEEK before fema or the local Government agencies set up to intervene and even now they’re doing a piss poor job. It’s honestly private citizens that are providing the most help. We all got each other out with Jon boats, kayaks and mud trucks; my friend and her boyfriend had to swim with their three dogs.
The water had finally started to recede about 1” per day. It will be months before we get back in. Everyone on my street lost everything they own.
twohammocks@reddit
Governments need to get tough with the oil/gas/agriculture industries. Tax the bad, subsidize the good. politicians with the courage to do that is what is required to actually reverse course on climate change. as for whether we vote those people in is another matter entirely.
loralailoralai@reddit
Seriously y’all can’t let a thread go by without brining yourselves into it can you
Turbulent-Today830@reddit
Oh, just like Western North Carolina a month ago
caveatlector73@reddit
Weather forecasting apps don't yet have the capability to tell people exactly what the consequences of a storm will be. Nor do they leap out of a pocket to lead someone to safety. They are just a tool. One of many available.