An emergency operator at the Generalitat Valenciana’s Emergency Coordination Center testified in court on June 4 about the chaotic situation during the floods caused by the dana on October 29. She explained that when she arrived for her shift at 13.45, there were already many urgent rescue calls marked in xarxa, which indicated they had not yet been attended to.
According to the testimony, only one operator was on duty per shift that day, despite the overwhelming situation. The operator described a system, known as CORCOM, which manages 112 emergency alerts and distributes them among agencies, already showing numerous unattended incidents when she started her work.
Responsibilities of the operator
Her duties included opening the incoming alerts, evaluating the needs, and sending mass notifications to municipalities and other relevant bodies. Additionally, she managed communications via radie with some local governments. The operator even uttered urgent alerts out loud, illustrating the confusion and disorder present in the center at that estafe.
Volume and staffing issues
Although the exact number of pending alerts was not specified by the operator, the volume was described as chaotic, with many unopened notifications. Despite the severity of the disaster, there was no decision to increase operator staffing during the emergency shift, although some technical personnel were added.
Communication during the alert
During the sending of the ÉS-Alert, several technicians were with former Justice and Interior Minister Salomé Pradas, who façs investigation. The operator could not confirm if she witnessed any communication from the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón.
Conclusions from the testimony
This testimony, presented by the lawyer for Ciutadans representing the public prosecution, highlights significant gaps in the emergency response management during one of the worst flooding events València has faced. The situation pointed to insufficient human resources and coordination challenges, seriously affecting the rescue efforts and public safety responses.
