Mayor proposes that police and volunteers who assisted DANA operations be decorated

This month’s plenary session is to approve a proposal for the 45 local police officers and 31 civil protection volunteers who responded rapidly to assist those affected by the flooding caused by the DANA storm at the end of last October to be award with the Police Merit Cross with Blue Distinction and the Civil Protection Medal of Merit respectively.

All of them carried out essential altruistic, supportive, and professional work to assist those affected by the flooding that devastated L’Horta Sud in Valencia on October 29th. Hours after the disaster, the officers and volunteers were already at “ground zero,” specifically in the municipality of Catarroja. On the morning of October 30th, they began assisting the population and carrying out tasks such as searching for missing persons, providing security and traffic coordination, and pumping out water and sludge. “They immediately and selflessly responded to the so-called ground zero,” outlined the proposal presented to the plenary session by mayor Rosa Cardona.

This contingent of professionals from Xàbia also distributed humanitarian aid to the residents who were isolated in their homes during these first hours. Officers and volunteers came in their free time and carried out a tremendous amount of charitable work. Their commitment “not only reflects a vocation for service, but also symbolizes the values ​​of solidarity, responsibility, and service to the community“.

They devoted themselves to assisting the most vulnerable and searching for the missing (the Local Police deployed their canine unit, the dogs Khalan and Kosmos). They removed vehicles and ensured safety during these complex tasks. They delivered medical supplies, cleaning supplies, and food—all essential products in such a critical time—to those affected and to the collection points. They also pumped out water and mud from garages where the search for missing persons was underway. They transported patients to hospitals in Valencia. They also participated in operations to prevent looting and theft from homes, businesses, and vehicles.

This selfless work proved crucial in the most difficult hours after the flood, at a time when the victims were deeply grateful that these professionals and volunteers from Xàbia were there in Catarroja, helping them with every need and forming part of the contingent that, the morning after the terrible floods, was already at ground zero, on the streets, working tirelessly to ensure that the residents of these towns felt supported and welcomed.

These awards, moving in recognition of extraordinary altruistic and humanitarian work, will also be special given that one of the Civil Protection Medals of Merit will be awarded posthumously. It will be to volunteer Iván Almazán Blázquez, who passed away suddenly last January.