The heavy rains that have hit the Terres de l’Ebre and various inland regions of Catalonia have caused significant material damage, disruptions in communication routes, and incidents in basic services.
Emergency teams and technical services continue to work to restore normality and assess the extent of the damages. In response to this situation, a first package of extraordinary measures has been approved:
1. Grants and direct aid
An initial amount of 10 million will be allocated to grant subsidies and provide direct aid to municipalities and the most affected sectors. Priority will be given to the reconstruction of municipal infrastructures and public buildings, as well as compensating for losses in agriculture and other economic activities in the area.
2. ICF loans with advantageous conditions
Starting next Monday, the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF) will launch a 50 million line of credit aimed at businesses, local administrations, and entities affected by emergencies.
The loans will have preferential conditions, with a repayment term of up to 10 years and a one-year grace period. The financing will be shared between the ICF (75%) and the Department of Economy and Finance (25%).
3. Agile management and emergency actions
To ensure maximum speed, actions related to the repair of infrastructures, equipment, and services will be considered emergency works and supplies, which will simplify the processing and reduce administrative deadlines.
In addition, the capacity of municipalities and county councils in civil protection will be strengthened with new financial and material resources.
4. New Emergency Logistics Center for Southern Catalonia
One of the planned actions is the creation of a future Emergency Logistics Center for Southern Catalonia, aimed at providing the region with stronger resources to manage extreme situations like this.
5. Coordination and monitoring
A working group will be established that includes various departments and public entities to monitor the approved measures and propose future actions. The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) and Infraestructures.cat are also tasked with evaluating and implementing preventive measures in ravines, watercourses, bridges, and other affected infrastructures.
Read the press release