A powerful testimony from content creator Emma Geikie, a Spaniard currently in Valencia,
aiming to raise international awareness about the disastrous handling by authorities following the DANA storm catastrophe, which has claimed over 200 lives in recent days.
Watch her report here https://crowdbunker.com/v/vpvuBhaZgA
Where is the government ?
A troubling pattern is emerging of governments not only failing to respond but actively obstructing assistance to victims of natural disasters. Both public and private emergency services are delayed under various pretexts, resulting in aid that is often too little and too late. This scenario has played out repeatedly.
In Belgium, the summer floods of 2021 were among the country’s worst natural disasters in recent memory, claiming the lives of 41 people. Mismanagement—seemingly intentional—led to a much higher death toll than expected. Years later, many victims were still living in container villages, waiting for promised reparations.
In the U.S., in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26 this year, army helicopters reportedly destroyed private distribution centers and designated disaster areas as restricted zones. Stranded people were left without crucial support, leading to an increased death toll. The government ultimately allocated a mere $344 million to 375,000 affected individuals (approximately $917 per person), while choosing to send billions in aid abroad.
August 8 marked the one-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires, which claimed 102 lives and devastated the historic community of Lahaina in western Maui. In this case, responders were reportedly denied access to the disaster area. The fires wiped out an entire beachfront city, and many children who survived remain unaccounted for. Maui’s mayor described the aftermath as an opportunity to rebuild, hailing the potential for redevelopment.
When the government is absent, citizens often organize themselves into self-reliant groups, driven by a strong instinct to help. Listening to these everyday heroes reveals the reality: these disasters are sometimes exploited to advance a specific climate change narrative.
Now we turn to Valencia
Local authorities there have been criticized for failing to issue timely warnings about the approaching storm. The regional government admitted it only sent out text messages warning residents of the flooding eight hours after initial reports, and ten hours after Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, issued a warning of “extreme danger” in the region. This occurred just after Valencia hosted "The Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission Conference," a summit dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development.
In the wake of the flooding, Valencia’s mayor hailed the disaster as an opportunity to transform Valencia into Spain's leading "smart city." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented on the flooding, stating, “This is the dramatic reality of climate change,” and that extreme weather events have become the “new normal.” Yet, this isn’t a new occurrence in Valencia. Known as the "gota fría," heavy flooding has affected the region for over a thousand years, with more than 3,500 recorded incidents. In 1957, a devastating flood of the Turia River led to a catastrophe for the city, resulting in the river being diverted to prevent future flooding.
Today, the situation is compounded by environmental changes, including deforestation, drained wetlands, and extensive development in the hinterland, leaving the region more vulnerable.
When Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited the flooded region, where more than 200 lives were lost, they faced protests from frustrated residents, who threw mud and eggs in anger.
Unusual Weather Patterns
Social media has been abuzz with questions about peculiar events observed before the storm, including the sighting of a floating electronic power plant and strange cloud formations. Meteorological data has indeed recorded unprecedented phenomena, warranting public scrutiny.
This power plant ship was last seen in the Canary Islands prior to the Valencia floods. Having traveled from Mozambique to Turkey, its current location is unknown—perhaps it is nearing Greece by now.
