11.2025 One year after DANA

The head of government leaves

The terrible flood disaster in Valencia in 2024 led to political consequences on November 3, 2025. Conservative Prime Minister Mazón announced his resignation after the journalist with whom he had a business lunch on the day of the flood testified in court that Mazón had been constantly texting on his cell phone. All of this and the head of government’s responsibility are being examined in court. Mazón had previously claimed that his cell phone had been turned off during the meal. This statement seems to prove that he lied, and he has already admitted in the media that he was overwhelmed. But what does this mean for a new government that can only take action after a new election?

Valencia faces numerous challenges in making the region more resilient after the devastating floods of 2024. In addition to urgently improving crisis preparedness and warning systems, cooperation with scientific networks and civil society must also be intensified in order to find more effective long-term solutions.

Networking the flood regions of the Ahr Valley and Valencia

The newspaper Las Provincias visited us in the summer on the anniversary of the 2021 floods in the Ahr Valley and a specialist conference. Their film documentary summarizes how they see the challenges in comparison between the regions. They emphasize that without compassion for those affected, no solutions can be found, neither on the Ahr nor in Valencia. We would like to express our special thanks to Jorge Alacid López, the editor-in-chief, and Amalia Yusta Gamez for the excellent documentary. We highly recommend the film.

Civil society actors will certainly now be measuring the candidates’ positions on concrete measures in the election campaign. We would therefore like to summarize here what is important in order to help the region.

Improvement of crisis preparedness and warning systems

• Response to failed warnings: The massive criticism of the delayed and ineffective warning system in October 2024 requires a complete overhaul of the system.
• Improved communication: Delays between the issuance of meteorological warnings and the actual notification of the population must be eliminated. A fast and direct warning system for mobile phones (ES-Alert) must function reliably and be able to be triggered immediately in case of danger.
• Strengthening infrastructure: The expansion of more effective urban drainage systems, dams, and retention basins is necessary to mitigate future flash floods. Water needs space, and this must be provided.
• Stricter building regulations: In view of the damage caused by unregulated development in flood areas, building regulations must be tightened and stricter development plans enforced.

Involvement of science and civil society

• Coordination with researchers: The government must draw on the expertise of climate scientists, hydrologists, and disaster management experts to conduct risk assessments and develop prevention strategies.
• Public awareness and education: The population, especially in the most vulnerable areas, must be better informed about the risks and rules of conduct in emergencies.
• Involving civil society groups in planning: The experience and knowledge of civil society groups, which are often the first on the scene, should be incorporated into disaster management planning.
• Strengthening volunteers and organizations: Organizations such as the Red Cross must receive the necessary support in emergencies to be able to provide better first aid and longer-term recovery assistance.
• Promoting community resilience: Educational initiatives and regular drills can strengthen people’s sense of personal responsibility and improve their ability to help themselves.

Building long-term resilience

• Holistic approach: A comprehensive, cross-departmental approach that takes into account the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health is crucial to counteracting the effects of extreme weather events.
• Psychological support: Providing psychological assistance to flood victims and long-term recovery plans are crucial for the mental resilience of the community.
• Overcoming political division: Effective cooperation between the regional government and the Spanish central government is essential to avoid delays and confusion in the event of a disaster.

For further reading, we recommend the PERC study by the Zurich Foundation, which lists the necessities in a scientifically sound manner. It can now serve as a questionnaire in the election campaign.

Photo by Las Provincias, Iván Arlandis