Following the recent DANA storm, students from Spain’s National Police Academy have joined in extensive clean-up and debris removal efforts in Alfafar, a town severely impacted by the floods.
The students, in collaboration with local authorities and emergency response teams, have been working to restore accessibility and safety in affected neighbourhoods. Moreover, their hands-on support in clearing debris is essential in ensuring that residents can begin recovery.
Canine units continue search for victims in flooded garages
Two police dogs, Niyum and Scottex, have been deployed in a vital mission: searching for any remaining victims in flooded garages across Valencia. Using an improvised raft to access submerged areas, the dogs’ specialised skills are critical for ensuring no one is left behind. However, as the storm waters recede, these inspections play a crucial role in confirming safety in heavily affected urban spaces.
Specialised canine units trained for human remains recovery deployed
Meanwhile, the Policia Nacional has dispatched five teams from the Special Canine Unit, specially trained in human remains detection, to aid in ongoing search efforts. These units, equipped to locate and retrieve human remains, are actively deployed across various flooded areas in Valencia. The Policia Nacional´s use of trained canine teams highlights the strategic approach in place to provide accurate, thorough search operations during such crises.
Clearing access roads to enable faster recovery in Valencia
Units from the Policia Nacional, including GOIT (Technical Operational Intervention Group), UIP (Public Order Response Unit), and the Motor Division, are actively working to clear primary access roads in Valencia’s most flood-impacted zones. These efforts are essential for reconnecting affected areas, enabling smoother transit for recovery crews, and accelerating Valencia’s return to normalcy after the devastating disruption caused by the DANA floods.
Temporary storage area for flood-damaged vehicles in Sedaví
In response to the number of flood-damaged vehicles, the Policia Nacional has set up a temporary storage area in Sedaví. This designated site is prepared to accommodate vehicles removed from flood zones, preventing road blockages and creating a space for organised vehicle assessment and removal. Moreover, this action supports the broader effort to maintain road access and allow for effective clean-up in affected neighbourhoods.
What exactly is a DANA
A DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), or Isolated High-Level Depression, is a weather phenomenon common in Spain, particularly in the Mediterranean regions, and is characterised by intense, isolated low-pressure systems at high altitudes. DANAs often bring severe weather conditions, including heavy rains, thunderstorms, hail, and even flash floods, which can lead to significant disruptions and damage in affected areas.
DANAs occur when a cold air mass at high altitudes becomes detached from the main flow of the polar jet stream and descends southward. When this cold air mass meets warmer, moist air at lower levels (often over the Mediterranean Sea), it can trigger intense convection, leading to heavy rainfall and storms. Due to the unpredictability of their intensity and location, DANAs can be challenging to forecast precisely, though they are typically most common in autumn when Mediterranean sea temperatures are at their warmest, fuelling the potential for extreme weather.
In English, DANAs are sometimes referred to as “cold drops” or “cut-off lows,” reflecting their isolated, low-pressure nature and the cold air involved.