According to Jaume Guillamet, the València DANA disaster was avoidable: there was scientifice knowledge and technical prediction, but the lack of action from authorities turned into human lives loss and suffer.
In addition, 'material damage were all predictable due to the persistent and deliberate urbanisation of riverbed and floodable areas, an action allowed and promoted by urbanistic planning', according to Guillamet. 'The next flood is difficult to prevent. 25 years passed between the 57 flood and the Tous flood, and 42 years have passed since then. Climate change makes heavy rain more frequent and likely to appear. It can happen any day' concludes Guillamet.
The conferences 'Reflexions i accions després de la catàstrofe. Veus expertes mig any després de les riuades del País Valencià' ('Reclections and actions after the catastrophe. Expert voices after galf a year of the País Valencià flood') with interdisciplinary perspective welcomed over twenty speakers. Their interventions will become the base of the Interdisciplinary Report 2025 of the Catalonian Studies Institute dedicated to the DANa and its consequences. Guillament highlights that 'people shortcomings must be avoided with correct authority action. They must be capable, and material damage can only be mitigated with drastic measures of territory planning that include radical measures'.
Another conclusion focuses on the need of 'being conscious of the risks, and educating about them and their prevention, about geography and popular memory and against misinformation. Educating while being councious that all the Mediterranean basin is vulnerable just like other territories are vulnerable to earthquakes and glacier melting... and acting accordingly'.
These confereces are organised by the Catalonian Studies Institute (IEC) València Delegation in collaboration with País València Cultural Action (ACPV), October Contemporary Culture Center, Universitat de València Scientific culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+i) and Language and Linguistic Policies Service, along with 'Mètode' scientific paper, the Valencian Community High Ministry of Scientific Research Delegation and Fan Set bookstore.
This activity is a part of the UCC+i scientific disseminaty yearly activity plan, co-funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Sessions are available on the Universitat de València Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit Website
