On 19 November, river basin authority Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar (CHJ) awarded an emergency contract worth €22.5 million to repair damage caused by the catastrophic flooding in Valencia on 29 October. The contract focuses on restoring the Sistema Automático de Información Hidrológica (SAIH), a critical network for monitoring river flows. It includes the region’s first-ever early warning system (EWS), addressing a long-standing gap in disaster preparedness.
The 29 October flooding revealed significant weaknesses in Valencia’s hydrological management. Torrential rains overwhelmed drainage systems and roadways, causing extensive damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure. The event underscored the need for immediate recovery and enhanced resilience to mitigate the impacts of future extreme weather events.
This investment represents a significant shift in Spain’s approach to disaster management. By incorporating an EWS into the SAIH, authorities are taking steps to modernize water monitoring infrastructure and address systemic deficiencies in flood risk management. While recovery remains a priority, these upgrades are part of a broader effort to bolster regional climate resilience.
