Gota fria floods - the worst storm in 140 years

Welcome back Kimmy.   You were missed.  I am very sorry that your absence was due to the Gota Fria.  

How is your home?  The news has been strangely sporadic about the flood effects but then I’m not a user of facebook so may have missed updates there.  Are people receiving help?  

Wishing you a safe return to your home.

Maria

Thx Ray, I did wonder about you, Jim and others who I know live in the campo.  Good to hear you got back so quickly, as I'd heard that one side of Catral, in particular, was very badly hit, as were several friends of mine in Dolores.

San Fulgencio and Daya Vieja, only minutes from us, have been devastated - one of the reasons it took so long to reduce the water around us was because, as fast as our Ayuntamiento team were pumping the water away, we were getting back flow from San Fulgencio.  How very sad to hear of the Dutch man who lost his life there.

We were also shocked by the many mudslides that had engulfed homes which we encountered around Orihuela on Friday 13th(!).  We were trying to get my Dad and his wife to Murcia airport, but had lost our internet at home and didn't discover until we were on the A7 that all flights had been cancelled.  We came off at the Santomera junction and tried to get to Jacarilla, but eventually had to retrace our steps and rejoin the motorway.  We crawled for miles, watching repeated attempts by rescue helicopters to winch people around Albatera to safety.  It took us almost 4 hours to do a 30 minute journey.  We couldn't have imagined that there was worse to come on Saturday.

I don't have the words to praise enough our Ayuntamiento team, the Policia Local, UME and the Bomberos for how hard they have worked, taking breaks only to sleep.  Also, our local farmers who, despite losing their entire crops, pitched in with tractors to dig channels to divert water.

Our losses are a drop in the ocean (no pun intended) to the many others whose houses are no longer standing.  

Eddie's fast asleep in his basket - the last 10 days have been confusing for him and I think he must be as happy as we are to be back home.  We're enormously grateful to have a home to come back to.

Kxx

Welcome back. So sorry to hear of your experiences.

Fortunately, we were virtually untouched, but it is clear from travelling around that the local authorities etc. have been doing a fantastic job. 

Thx Maria, it's good to be back.  

Our gardens look like a lunar landing, everything covered in a strange grey mud.  The pool's black, the pump needs to be replaced, as does the electric gate motor.  The washing machine and fridge in the utility need to be replaced and the plaster's hanging off the wall in that room, but the rest of the house is dry.

Our neighbour has had water throughout his house and had to dump all his furniture, so we really are very lucky.

I, too, have seen little coverage of such a significant disaster in the international media.  It does feel as if Spain, as a European member state and the recipient of foreign investment through the property market, hasn't attracted the attention that poorer countries would receive.  Yet many Spanish people are too poor to pay for insurance and I very much hope that the Spanish Government Consortium, to which around 5% of our insurance premiums is donated, will help these people.  One thing's for sure, the Spanish people will rally around those less fortunate in a way we have generally forgotten in the UK.

I know that many towns and villages are in desperate need of help and there are many organisations co-ordinating donations of food, clothing, furniture and money, so if members have anything to spare, please contact your Ayuntamiento for advice.

All safe and sound now, thank you, so long as I keep the mozzie spray to hand!

Best wishes,

Kxx

xx

V

Hi Kelvin, Villas and Pete,

Lovely to hear from you - and lovely to be back!

Good morning to Cheryl, too, who has been PM'ing me.  Good to hear that you're all OK 👍

Best wishes, 

Kim

xxx

So glad to hear you are back home again Kim and with everything mostly intact indoors but a horrible time for everyone affected. 

You have an indominatable spirit, Kim. I salute you for your concern for others when you yourself are suffering losses. Thank you for letting us know that you are safe and back home. All the very best.

You're very kind, Sheila, thank you.