Author: atikaetc

Valencia Midweek Update: Air Quality Alerts, Flood Recovery Efforts, and Holiday Events

Good Morning! ? Welcome to your mid-week news update for Valencia’s international community.

Air Quality Concerns

Doctors are raising alarms about deteriorating air quality in Valencia since the recent floods, citing a rise in respiratory problems. The issue, as Las Provincias explains, stems from river mud left behind by the floods, which has dried and turned into airborne dust particles that can affect lung health.
Read more from Las Provincias.

The Generalitat is monitoring air quality levels, warning that over a million residents could be affected. Doctors recommend extra precautions, like wearing masks, especially for individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions.
Details from Levante.

Managing Reconstruction and Preparing for the Future

Gan Pampols, Valencia’s newly appointed head of flood reconstruction, held his first press conference, criticizing the existing alert system and vowing to create a more coordinated emergency response plan. His tenure has already sparked controversy over his salary.
Coverage from Levante.

Valencia is also moving to amend the Huerta Law, which governs the agricultural zones surrounding the city. Proposed changes include accelerating work on re-channeling the Poyo ravine, the Turia River, and other tributaries to mitigate future flood risks.
Levante has the full story.

However, Las Provincias points out that some of these infrastructure projects could have mitigated the recent disaster had they been completed earlier.
Read more from Las Provincias.

Meanwhile, discussions are underway to reclassify urban development near ravines and floodplains, as overdevelopment in these areas has heightened the risk to residents. The debate has sparked political tensions about rebuilding strategies.
Analysis from El País.

Transportation Update

MetroValencia services are gradually resuming:

  • Fully operational: Lines 3, 5, and 9
  • Partial service: Lines 1, 2, and 7
    • Line 1: Bétera ? Plaza España
    • Line 2: Paterna ? Plaza España
    • Line 7: Marítim ? Sant Isidre

For detailed updates and substitute bus services, visit the MetroValencia website.

Unfortunately, Valencia Plaza reports that service to L’Eliana will remain suspended until at least Christmas. A bus shuttle service continues between L’Eliana and Ángel Guimerá station.

Call for Volunteers

Flood recovery efforts are ongoing, and the Generalitat is calling for volunteers to help distribute aid from December 6–8. Buses will depart from the City of Arts and Sciences, but spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

For a list of charities and other ways to contribute, check out the Flood Recovery Resources Page.

Holiday Weekend and Christmas Events

This week brings two public holidays:

  • Friday, December 6: Constitution Day (schools and markets closed).
  • Sunday, December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Stay tuned for a separate post covering the Christmas lights switch-on, festive markets, and other weekend activities of the holiday season! ?

Updated: Flood Recovery Resources

In the wake of the devastating DANA floods, countless individuals, businesses, and organizations in Valencia are in urgent need of assistance. Below is an evolving list of donation and volunteer resources for those looking to help. Check back regularly as this page will be updated regularly.

Helping Businesses and Community Groups

  • Go Fund Me: Dedicated page for supporting flood-affected businesses, schools, community groups, and residents.
  • Adopta un Comercio: Adopt a Business initiative connects donors with small businesses rebuilding after the floods.
  • Fundació Horta Sud: Fundraising to support civic, education, and arts organizations impacted by the floods.
  • Goteo: Crowdfunding campaigns for community groups with a special focus on flood recovery.
  • Adopta un Colegio: Dozens of schools have been damaged by the floods. This charity is hoping to speed recovery of classrooms with volunteers and donations of school materials. There is a map of affected schools and donors can select which ones they want to help.
  • Patrocina un Jardin: The Association of Mediterranean Landscaping has a charity effort to restore and create gardens in flood-affected schools.  The hope is that children will can plant these gardens as therapeutic recovery from the disaster.
  • Solidana is the solidarity portal of Valencia’s Chamber of Commerce, helping businesses recover from the disaster.    

Coordinating Volunteer and Donation Efforts

  • Ajuda DANA Sistema Coordinación: Matches volunteers with flood victims who need assistance.
  • Buscador DANA: An all-in-one search engine for connecting donors, volunteers, and flood victims.
  • Zubi Help: Coordination of volunteers and donations managed by Zubi Group in collaboration with local governments.
  • Global Giving: UK-based charity collecting funds for vetted partners in Valencia’s flood-affected areas.
  • Som Solidaritat: Generalitat-run platform organizing volunteer and donation efforts through local councils.
  • Support Mutu Dana: Instagram-based initiative connecting individual donors directly to people in need.
  • Ayuda Terreta – Interactive map connecting volunteers with requests for help in flood affected areas.  
  • Bancos de Alimentos Valencia – Valencia food bank raising funds for flood victims 
  • World Central Kitchen – International food and meals charity started by Spanish celebrity chef José Andrés.  WCK has set up a Valencia HQ at the port cooking up and delivering meals to those in flood affected areas still in recovery.  You can volunteer to help by filling in this form. 
  • Elfas Por La DANA:  Instagram group of paediatricians matching donors with children affected by the floods.  The children will write letters requesting a gift for Christmas/Three Kings and donors can buy them the gift. The paediatricians will collect and validate all the requests, as well as distribute the gifts. 
  • Proyecto Alicia – A furniture exchange that connects donors with families who need to replace lost household items.  From furniture to kitchen appliances but also medical and school supplies, donors list what they have available. Affected families can then browse and select items.
  • The Altius Foundation is a Catholic charity that has become one of the biggest coordinators of aid in Valencia after the flood disaster.  Their giant warehouse has been called the “Amazon of aid”.  They are looking for volunteers to help sort and deliver donated goods.  

Art, Music, and Culture Initiatives

  • Auction for Action: Charity art auction led by street artist Felipe Pantone, whose own studio was affected.
  • El Arte Con Valencia: Collaborative art auction raising funds for flood victims.
  • Designers for Valencia: Charity sale featuring graphic design artwork inspired by the floods.
  • Plykit: Modular furniture designers providing donated furniture to affected households; volunteers needed for assembly.
  • Interioristas en Acción:  Designers working to refurnish flood-damaged homes and businesses.  They are looking to collaborate with companies, furniture designers and others in the design industry.  

Animal Welfare

  • Sporting Benimaclet: The local sports center is operating as a temporary shelter for lost and abandoned pets.
  • The Veterinarians College of Valencia is organizing donations for veterinarian clinics damaged by the floods.  If you would like to volunteer or donate, their website has a list of clinics needing help.

Cars, Bicycles, and Transport

  • Bicis Para La Vida: Refurbishing and distributing bicycles to residents in flood-hit areas, accepting bicycle donations.

If you know of additional organizations or initiatives, feel free to submit it here.