The activation of the red alert for torrential rains for this coming Monday, September 29 by the Emergency Coordination Center has activated the protocols for flooding in Valencia and its metropolitan area.
The city council of the capital has ordered a generalized closure of its services and facilities and has suspended all teaching activities for tomorrow, Monday, September 29 from 04:00 hours, a measure already supported by more than thirty municipalities in the province.
On the official website of Aemet you can follow live the evolution of weather alerts for the province of Valencia, Castellón and Alicante.
In order to ensure the safety of citizens, it is recommended to minimize travel and avoid risky situations in the forecast of a meteorological episode of maximum intensity.
The flood plan of the Generalitat Valenciana establishes that workers consult with their company the possibility of teleworking in case of orange or red level alerts that affect the municipality where their residence or workplace is located.
In a statement, the Generalitat recalls the right of workers to paid “weather leave” and urges companies to prioritize teleworking.
Measures in Valencia from this Monday
In a coordinated action, the Valencia City Council has decreed the suspension of a wide range of activities and the closure of multiple municipal facilities:
- Education and Culture: all teaching activity is suspended, both formal and informal, in all schools in the city, as well as the activity in Occupational Centers and the Popular University. In addition, all Municipal Libraries will remain closed.
- Parks and Green Areas: all parks and gardens in the city will be closed, including the libraries located inside them. It is expressly recommended not to circulate in the Turia Garden and the forest of La Devesa in El Saler.
- Sports and Markets: all sports activities organized by the Municipal Sports Foundation are suspended and its facilities are closed. Extraordinary and itinerant markets are also cancelled.
- Social Services and Cemeteries: the activity in all Social Centers (Senior Citizen Centers, Day Care Centers and Youth Centers) is suspended and the municipal cemeteries are closed.
- Emergency Attention: the opening of the CAES (Center for Attention to Social Emergencies) of Weather Emergencies of El Carmen has been activated, which is added to those already existing in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Benimaclet to provide shelter to those who need it.
- Municipal staff: the option of teleworking has been facilitated for City Council staff residing outside the city to avoid travel.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, Valencia City Council has issued a series of clear instructions for citizens. In case of having to act immediately, it is advised:
- Take shelter on high floors or high points, carrying water and something warm.
- Do not go out into the street and leave the roads free for the passage of emergency services.
- Turn off the electricity and gas supply if water enters the house and do not handle electrical appliances that have been wet.
- Use the telephone only to communicate emergencies.
- As general guidelines during the red alert, the authorities urge to:
- Evacuate immediately if ordered by emergency services.
- Do not return home until authorized by authorities.
- Have an emergency kit ready.
- Keep informed of the evolution of the storm exclusively through official channels.
At all times, the population is reminded that in case of emergency, the telephone number to call is 112.
List of municipalities without classes this Monday in Valencia
The suspension of school activity has spread throughout much of the province. The municipalities that have already confirmed that they will not open their schools this Monday are:
- Valencia
- Torrent
- Picanya
- Paterna
- Mislata
- Alfara del Patriarca
- Paiporta
- Carlet
- Alginet
- Alzira
- Benimodo
- Carcaixent
- Montserrat
- Benifaió
- Almussafes
- Gavarda
- Benetússer
- Catarroja
- Sagunt
- Canet d’en Berenguer
- Gilet
- Faura
- Benifairó de les Valls
- Quartell
- Benavites
- Quart de les Valls
- Petrés
- Albalat dels Tarongers
- Estivella
- Torres Torres
- Algímia d’Alfara
- Alfara de la Baronia
- Algar del Palància
- Picassent
- Albal
In addition, the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia has already announced that it will suspend classes this Monday.
Metro, with restrictions
This Monday Metrovalencia has announced that trains only run between Torrent Avinguda and Paterna, after a service cut between Santa Rita and Llíria. An alternative bus service has been established between Paterna and Llíria. Schedules and frequencies will be reduced throughout the day today.
Valencia-Oviedo, postponed
Valencia C.F. and Oviedo will finally play their match on Tuesday, September 30 after the suspension was decreed this Monday due to the red alert in Valencia.