Last week, the Region of Valencia was hit by severe flooding caused by the atmospheric phenomenon DANA (high pressure system), which caused heavy rainfall and flooding in many areas. Towns and villages in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante were particularly affected, with roads flooded and homes and cars damaged. Some settlements deep in the province of Valencia were particularly affected, while in coastal areas such as Alicante, flooding also caused damage to infrastructure and businesses.
However, such events are not frequent in the region. Floods do occur, but they are rare and usually associated with heavy rainfall or phenomena such as DANA, which have sudden and devastating effects. Such disasters have become somewhat more frequent in recent decades due to climate change and increased rainfall intensity.
In 2019, for example, intense rainfall caused significant flooding in Valencia, Alicante and other cities in the region. Homes and infrastructure were affected and the authorities declared disaster areas. There were also major floods in 2007, when heavy rains inundated many municipalities in both provinces. Although less frequent, these events have serious consequences for the local population and require significant reconstruction efforts.
In addition, Valencia and Alicante experienced one of the most devastating floods in 1982, when the coast was severely inundated, causing many casualties and material losses. Nevertheless, such floods are quite rare, with years passing between major events.
However, the frequency and intensity of floods has increased in recent years. This is due to global climate change, which is affecting the amount and pattern of rainfall. In particular, atmospheric low pressure systems such as DANA are becoming more intense, leading to an increased risk of catastrophic flooding. As a result, while floods remain rare, their impact can be much more devastating, particularly during the autumn and winter months when rainfall is at its most intense.
In response to the recent disaster, the Collegium of Notaries of Valencia has offered assistance to those affected. Those affected by the floods can contact notaries free of charge to draw up documents to prove the damage. A special platform allows residents to send photos of damaged homes and cars online to receive notarised documents without having to visit a notary in person. It also provides assistance in recovering lost documents, such as title deeds, which may have been destroyed in the floods.
This free notary service is an important support for those affected by the disaster and will help speed up the process of filing claims for compensation. These measures, together with other actions taken by local authorities and services, are helping to restore normal life in the affected areas.
Although such disasters do not occur every year, their frequency in recent years has raised awareness of the need to improve infrastructure and take additional measures to protect against possible future natural disasters.