“We are raising generations of young people right now who are not prepared for when the Titanic iceberg comes. We have raised them hyper-protected,” pontificated the novelist and former journalist Arturo Pérez-Reverte in The Anthill in October 2022. Some words that were already dead for generations that have grown up with the economic crisis of 2008, lived through the Lorca earthquake in 2011, faced the biggest pandemic in a century, the eruption of a volcano in La Palma, a inflationary crisis that seemed impossible since the arrival of the euro, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and with it the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. With rents through the roof, the flood with the most deaths of the century in Europe shows how Young people are also those who are suffering the most and will suffer the most from the climate crisis.
The alleged hyperprotection that Alatriste spoke about in front of Trancas y Barrancas has not prevented this alleged crystal generation become the mud generation. The reeds, or the sticks, were already given to them by the National Police last Saturday when they asked for political responsibilities for the DANA tragedy. Just as their elders went to the Galician coast in 2002 to clean them of chapapote, the millennials and generation Z has come en masse to help the victims of a flood magnified by the burning of fossil fuels, the lack of early warnings to the population, a productive system that did not stop despite the red notices from the Aemet and poor planning urban planning.
Bicycles to help where cars couldn’t reach
Where the State has shown itself incapable of initially assuming such an immense catastrophe, young people crossed the border en masse. solidarity bridge that linked the city with the affected areas on the other side of the new channel of the Turia River. They did so loaded with cleaning supplies and tools, but also of rage, fear and desire to help. One of those who did it the afternoon after DANA was Miguel Fanlo, a 27-year-old industrial engineer. This Riojan resident in the north of the city of Valencia decided to go cycling with a friend to the district of La Torre after leaving work. That weekday there were still almost no volunteers except for a group from a university student residence. Together they managed to empty some small businesses.
After returning, Miguel informed his friends of the “catastrophic” situation he saw and encouraged a group of ten acquaintances to organize themselves to help. The next day they spread out through a flooded Horta Sud. By then the neighbors were already beginning to return to their homes and the main tasks of Miguel and his friends were empty them of water, mud and damaged furniture. They were also responsible for unclogging the scuppers to ensure that the accumulated water went down the sewer.
For the All Saints’ long weekend, pedal volunteers like Miguel went to the Rambleta cultural space to organize in groups and distribute groceries and basic necessities to older people in apartments without elevators. In this way They managed to bring help door to door where motorized vehicles were not capable to arrive due to the damage to the infrastructure and the limitations on road traffic. They did it in a self-organized way, in affinity groups, without going through institutions, considering it more effective to ask each person about their needs.
Victims, neighbors and volunteers
“We young people have shown that the glass generation does not exist,” says Omar, a 32-year-old security guard. He “miraculously” survived the flood. It surprised him in his basement in Catarroja, located near the Poyo ravine, which overflowed. The alert to the Generalitat’s cell phone came to him with water up to his thighs. Once safe, he saw floating bodies and rescued neighbors with ropes from the terrace where he took refuge. When the water level dropped, early in the morning, he managed to help several neighbors trapped in flooded premises: “In a bar we were able to get the owners out, who were saved by removing a plate from the ceiling and being able to put their heads in there.”
Omar, with his triple status as victim, survivor and DANA volunteer, has left his home to return to his parents due to his fragile health. In the process a lung infection has happened. Despite a 72-hour rest period and the catastrophic situation in Catarroja, Your company has asked you when you will return to work.
The disease has led to acute bronchitis. He needs to go to a hospital so that it does not lead to pneumonia but he does not know how. For this volunteer-survivor from l’Horta Sud, the political and institutional response has been one of abandonment so that “the people can save themselves.”
Hands and faith to rebuild
Samuel is a 36-year-old man from Huelva who has lived in the capital of Valencia for ten years. He couldn’t help clean up until the first weekend because of his public-facing job. “The day after DANA, when I saw that they were coming to help the affected areas, I felt like I had to be there and help in some way. because we were facing a very serious catastrophe”.
He helped transport furniture to the trucks that were removing it. In addition, Samuel has cleaned houses and streets in Castellar and Paiporta. In this municipality, one of the most affected, attended one of the first masses after DANA “to pray for all those who suffered and those who had died.” He was able to return the following weekend, this time to Catarroja through a parish in Valencia that manages humanitarian aid and volunteers: “I was able to talk to the neighbors and encourage them.” Their job was to ask what their needs were and bring food to areas where it was more difficult to reach.
Despite the “low moments”, upon seeing the disaster firsthand and learning the stories of the survivors, Samuel regained his enthusiasm to not transmit hatred to them. After listening to their sufferings, he considers that he has been able to be support and relief for the victims. The man from Huelva acknowledges having cried at the images of thousands of supportive people walking towards the affected metropolitan area of Valencia: “We have met volunteers from all over Spain and abroad. Most were young. “What has impressed me most is their solidarity and dedication.”
Instead, the little institutional help that the victims have had The first few days and the avoidable deaths and losses have made him angry and filled with sadness. “The volunteers have and we have all been united regardless of race, ideology or way of being. I hope that with the help of everyone, and especially the governments, all the affected areas can recover.” Samuel avoids accusing anyone of being responsible for achieving what he has seen at ground zero, “a nation united for a cause.”
Andalusians come to rescue the ‘terreta’
Victoria is a 29-year-old social worker who lives in Córdoba. DANA caught him on a trip and he was not aware of what happened until he returned to Spain days later. “That same night, a friend suggested that we go help the following weekend. “We couldn’t stand by with so many people suffering.”
During the week they collected money and bought material according to the needs requested directly by those affected in apps such as AyudaTerreta, AjuDana and in Telegram groups. In total they mobilized seven volunteers from Granada, Jaén and Córdoba with destination Massanassa and Catarroja. Precisely this area of Valencia was a welcoming land for many Andalusian emigrants in the years of development.
They went without knowing where they were going to sleep but they were immediately welcomed into a house. These Andalusian volunteers also They distributed directly street to street and house to house. “We did not want to overload the donation points due to the logistical chaos there is,” Victoria clarifies.
What the woman from Córdoba saw when she arrived is described as devastating: the smell, the helpless people, the streets full of garbage, the broken families, houses full of mud and water, elderly people with nothing, children who have seen things they had no business seeing. , lines to order detergent and boots, tears of sadness and gratitude: “No matter how much graphic content is seen in the news or social networks, It has no comparison with what you feel and see being there.”he indicates.
Victoria highlights that there are people who cannot shower due to phobia of the sound of water: “Hearing very hard stories in first person brings you a little closer to the horror and fear they suffered that day.” What has impacted this social worker the most is total gratitude to the young people: “There you only hear the word thank you.” There are also people who just want to feel that they are not alone and who prefer a hug and someone to listen to them rather than having the remains of mud cleaned or brought a tupperware of hot food.
In the affected areas, the losses are not only of lives and materials but even from the conception of time. “On several occasions we have been asked on the street ‘What day is it?’ or ‘How many days has it been?'” Victoria recalls.
The victims with whom this Andalusian woman has dealt feel “unprotected, betrayed and helpless in their own country” for the political response. “Although the people have gone out of their way to help, the lesson is not being taught by the young people but by the affected families with their courage, humility and gratitude,” concludes this young woman.
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