Municipalities affected by previous storm are today “more prepared”

Oterritories affected by the storm Kristin, which fell on Portugal in January, are now “more prepared” to face severe weather phenomena, says Pedro Pimpão, president of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and Pombal City Council.

In an interview with RTP, the mayor (elected by the PSD) has no “doubts” that, due to the experience with storm Kristin, the municipalities of the Leiria-Pombal region are “more prepared” to respond to something similar.

With the announcement of the passage of storm Charles, a new meteorological phenomenon with severe potential, the mayors of the region are “more alert”, guarantees.

“ Our teams, Civil Protection, security forces, parish together, are more aware and more articulated for the work we have to do”, states, however, that, for very severe phenomena, they still do not have the “necessary resources”.

In January, the municipalities affected by storm Kristin – one of several storms that reached the continental territory from the end of January and for three weeks, causing at least 19 deaths and several hundred wounded, displaced and displaced, especially in the regions Centro, Lisboa and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo – realized “for the worst reasons” that have to anticipate scenarios and adopt defensive conduct.

“ We are more focused, we know precisely what is the best way to respond to the problems that will arise, but we do not know the dimension [of the storm that is approaching]”, notes Pedro Pimpão.

“ At the moment we are doing our best with what we have at our disposal to prepare collectively to respond as best we can,” he says.

“ We are working all, namely the municipalities that can be hit more with this meteorological phenomenon at the outset, to create conditions to defend people”, notes, advancing that the Pombal chamber has already activated the municipal emergency plan.

Instigating the population to heed the recommendations of the Ministry of Internal Administration, Pimpão lamented having to cancel all activities planned for the day of the municipality of Pombal, which is marked on Wednesday.

Wishing that storm Charles didn't have the same impact as Kristin, the mayor vented in a wailing tone: “We don’t deserve it.”

The Pombal region is still “recovering the effects of storm Kristin”, which “was so strong and impacting (...) that there is still a set of resources and equipment” to rehabilitate, recalls, speaking on interdicted roads, where traffic circulates alternately, communities with complications in access to communications and difficulties in restoring electricity.

Continental Portugal will be on alert between 00:00 and 23:59 Wednesday, due to the possible worsening of the state of time with the arrival of depression Charles, it is expected that Lisbon, Leiria, Setúbal, Beja and Faro will be the most affected regions.

The government has decided to close non-essential schools and public services in all districts, and the authorities have admitted to closing bridges and air traffic restrictions.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), “the occurrence of heavy rain or shower periods, strong wind, with gusts that can reach 120 kilometers/hour and, in case of formation of the phenomenon ‘sting jet’ (air current that quickly descends inside an extratropical depression, accelerating towards the surface), exceed 150 kilometers/hour”.

Red weather warnings (the maximum level) were issued for the continent, this Wednesday, and as of tonight also for Madeira, where schools will be closed in the morning.