In the last few days, Castilla-La Mancha has been following the METEOCAM Plan In response to the arrival of intense episodes of rain, storms, strong gusts of wind, and hail, the regional government has activated a special response to minimize the risks arising from these adverse weather events by keeping citizens informed and mobilizing emergency services.
The activation of this plan, managed by the Ministry of Finance, Public Administrations and Digital Transformation, always respond to alerts issued by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) In this case, they warned of significant rainfall accumulations, as well as high temperatures and the likelihood of intense storms accompanied by hail in various areas of the region. The METEOCAM was activated at noon on Sunday and remained active for several days, given the scope and severity of the situation.
Affected provinces and activation timeline
The activation of the METEOCAM Plan began last Sunday in Albacete and Cuenca, later spreading to the provinces of Ciudad Real, Guadalajara and Toledo Given the increase in warnings and evolving forecasts, the initial phase involved alerting local authorities and mobilizing emergency resources throughout the region. The hardest hit areas, especially by hailstorms and torrential rains, were located in regions such as Hellín, Almansa or La Roda, where relevant incidents occurred.
The device contemplated the Coordination of the 1-1-2 Emergency and Urgent Care Service, which communicated the necessary preventive and follow-up measures to local authorities and intervention groups. The plan's management constantly monitored incidents to adapt the operational response to actual needs and weather conditions.
Recorded incidents and damage report
During the validity of METEOCAM, Up to 87 incidents were recorded throughout the region. The province of Albacete was the most affected, reaching 39 episodes, including a major hailstorm in La Roda, which damaged roofs, caused flooding, and caused trees and branches to fall. Toledo recorded 18 incidents and Ciudad Real registered 16, while Cuenca and Guadalajara They detected 12 and 2 incidents respectively. Many of the actions were related to obstacles in public roads, damage to electrical and telephone lines, and accumulated water, which required urgent intervention by municipal and regional teams.
In addition, there were Other setbacks in towns such as Villarrobledo, Villarrubio or Chinchilla de Montearagón, where a fire caused by a lightning strike during the storm even broke out. Those responsible for the plan assessed the positive developments in the forecasts and the resolution of the incidents and decided to deactivate it, once the situation had gradually returned to normal.
Recommendations and self-protection measures during storms
In view of the activation of METEOCAM and similar situations, the regional government and emergency services have disseminated practical tips for prevention and self-protection for the public. These include reducing speed while driving in heavy rain, avoiding driving through flooded areas, riverbeds, or gullies, and seeking shelter in high places in case of flooding if traveling through the countryside. Likewise, it is recommended to remove objects that could be swept away by water from homes and leave basements or ground floors due to the risk of flooding, in addition to turning off the electricity if necessary.
Outdoors, it is best not to park vehicles near streams or attempt to wade through them, to avoid being caught in flash floods. It is also essential to avoid unnecessary travel by road and, if you cannot avoid them, find out in advance about the condition of the roads and take extreme precautions against the possible appearance of obstacles.
All citizens are reminded that the telephone 1-1-2 It is available for emergencies and must be used responsibly. Citizen collaboration is key during adverse weather events so that emergency services can respond with maximum effectiveness.
Now that the storm is over, authorities emphasize the importance of staying informed and prepared for future weather events, expressing their gratitude for the rapid response of municipal services and the responsible behavior of the public.
