Francisco José Gan Pampols, Second Vice President and Minister for Economic and Social Recovery of the Valencian Community, has emphasized the critical role of citizen self-protection in the aftermath of last year's devastating DANA flood. Speaking at the Europe Forum, the former lieutenant general argued that while warning systems are essential, individual responsibility during emergencies represents the first line of defense. Gan Pampols pointed to specific incidents where fatalities occurred when people ventured into flooded garages to retrieve vehicles despite rising water levels.
The official highlighted what he described as a cultural gap in emergency preparedness, contrasting Spain's response with countries like Japan, the United States, and France where even children understand proper emergency protocols. "Being an organized society means everyone knows what they must do: where to concentrate and how to act," Gan Pampols stated. He stressed that citizen response during risky situations must complement official alert systems, noting that true preparedness is measured during "complex days" rather than peaceful periods.
Political tensions have emerged surrounding the reconstruction efforts, with Gan Pampols expressing concern over the lack of direct communication between Valencian President Carlos Mazón and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The official noted that more than a year has passed since the catastrophic flooding that claimed 229 lives, yet the two leaders have not held a meeting to coordinate recovery efforts. While acknowledging he lacks evidence of central government sabotage, Gan Pampols suggested that reconstruction could be proceeding more effectively, speculating that "it could be due to incapacity."
Gan Pampols confirmed his upcoming departure from the Valencian government, scheduled for November 4, but insisted his exit is voluntary rather than a dismissal. "Nobody is firing me—I'm leaving because I want to and because I believe I've fulfilled what I set out to do," he stated. The official reported significant progress in reconstruction, with 40% of initiatives already started or completed by late September and projections reaching 61% by year-end. He advocated for a centralized planning model coordinated through the Ministry of Territorial Policy to streamline ongoing recovery efforts involving multiple administrative bodies.
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