The possible overflow of Guadalete River for the DANA caused the Junta of Andalusia decided to expel some 50 families in the rural center of Frontera Sherry. He Juanma Moreno Executive made this decision after activating this Thursday the Emergency plan by flood risk in your first operational situation in this area.
From the Forward Command Post located in the La Cartuja Monastery in Jerezhe Advisor to the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue and Administrative Simplification of the Junta de Andalucía, Antonio Sanzconfirmed the activation of this alert and the preventive evacuation of residents who live in Las Pachecas, El Portal, La Corta and La Greduelabut not in its entirety, but only in the areas close to the banks of the Guadalete.
The advisor assured that “at present, there is no situation in which there has already been an overflow” of the rivernor any material or personal affection”, but it was transferred that “because of the evolution of the river and due to the arrival of water through the flow from which it feeds, we consider that we must make decisions.
“This decision, which is imperative, has a preventive nature,” he clarified. Antonio Sanzwho explained that the Jerez City Council has allowed three areas to care for and house displaced residents who have no other housing option while this alert is maintained. These points are the Portal Conventthe Junta shelter in the city, which has around 60 places, and the Ibis hotel, which will be the first spaces that will be filled thanks to the Red Cross project to install a field shelter in La Cartuja, where displaced people “if necessary”.
In this way, we want to ensure coverage both for the night and for all the nutritional and health needs of the people affected by this situation, who will initially be monitored for around ten hours, during which assessments and monitoring of the situation will be carried out. carried out, although it has not been excluded that this could extend in the event of further rain.
THE Mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayodetailed that at the beginning 18 families have already been evicted in La Corta, 15 in Las Pachecas and some other families in El Portal, without specifying the number, with data also pending in La Greduela, although municipal sources indicate in initially around 50 families. The mayor thanked “the receptivity and commitment” shown by these neighbors who have their homes on the bank closest to the river.
The situation of Guadalete has evolved more and more throughout the day, increasing between 5 and 10 centimeters per hour, which currently places it “very close to the orange risk level” marked at 5.20 centimeters, while it is currently at 4.86, “only 30 centimeters” from the orange. situation, in the words of the Andalusian advisor.
“The orange situation is that of a possible overflow, so we are close, but logically we preferred to act preventively. This may or may not happen, but urgency, prevention, is fundamental and anticipating the disaster or risk situation that may arise is fundamental, and this is the decision that all administrations have taken unanimously and with the collaboration of all the devices,” he declared. Antonio Sanz.
From this Forward Command Postthe councilor apologized to the neighbors, whom he also thanked for “their understanding” regarding the situation of expulsionstating that “what we cannot do is react neither late nor when it has happened.”
THE mayor’s wife thanked the help of the Junta de Andalucía through the councilor and of the Spanish government with the presence of the subdelegate in Cadiz, Blanca Flores. García-Pelayo explained that the representatives of these rural neighborhoods “perfectly understood the decision that was made” because “we know the Guadalete River“. “We have already experienced many floods, we know the damage they cause when the river says “I am here” and I think it is much better to act seriously, responsibly and obviously with foresight,” he said. he asserted.
Regarding the evacuation system for residents most likely to be affected by a possible overflow, the mayor specified that members of the Local Police are responsible for notifying evictions in La Corta, the National Police is responsible for El Portal – el Portalillo and the Greduelaand of The Pachecas is in charge of Civil Guard.
THE Deputy Government Delegate, Blanca Floresrecalled that “for 48 hours we have already been acting on the basis of forecasts” of rain and alerts from the National Meteorological Agency of the province, which led the National Police and the Civil Guard to intervene in the Jerez countryside last Wednesday “in” really risky situations. actions.”
Flowers highlighted the road blocks that persist in different parts of the province and asked citizens “not to leave their homes and not to take the car if it is not strictly necessary”, in addition to the “precautionary measures extremes”, adding that “we are here for any incidents that may arise.
For his part, through a message on the social network Junta of Andalusia, Juanma Morenoechoed this information, calling for “caution this evening” in rural areas of Jerez affected by the flooding of the Guadalete River, and in the province of Huelvawhich is on orange alert due to rain. Furthermore, he added that he “waits minute by minute for the DANA“.
