Issue 778 02 November - 08 November 2012
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The heavens open TENERIFE has been hit by an Atlantic storm this week, the length and breadth of the Island. After months of heavy skies but hardly a drop or rain, the heavens have opened. And there’s more to come, according to our weather forecasters at AEMET, Tenerife’s Meteorological Agency, who, since Tuesday, have kept us on orange alert, which is a medium caution to take extra care. But there’s no doubting that the much-needed rain is a Godsend to some. It spells absolute delight for farmers and abject dismay for holidaymakers. Yet few residents will complain as they see shrivelled plants and trees spring to life again, with greenery bursting out all over. Far from popular opinion, though, these heavy rains are in no way connected with Hurricane Sandy, which has battered the US senseless. We’ve simply experienced a storm from the Atlantic - and about time, too, because the drought has been evident for such a long time, particularly during the red-hot summer, when fire-fighters struggled to find water on land to combat the dreadful fires which ravaged several villages and towns. Even the mountain reservoirs, always a good source for them in times of emergency, were unable to provide water, and they had to rely mostly on helicopters swooping down on the sea with their huge buckets, and water planes. Happily, there have been no reports of serious injuries, and the sun even peeped through for a few minutes yesterday (Thursday).
Orange alert still in place as more bad weather threatens Yes, of course it is tough on tourists, but it has been much harder on farmers, who obviously rely on their crops to eek out a living. The weekend was overcast, with some showers, but there was no real hint of what was to follow until AEMET issued the orange alert on Tuesday morning, but mainly due to the high winds. The Agency warned that the wind in high regions could reach gusts of up to 100kms/ hr. There was a yellow warning alongside for rain - up to 60
litres per square metre in 12 hours. La Palma and Gran Canaria were also on the same alerts, as were El Hierro and La Gomera for high winds. One of Tenerife’s premier tourist attractions, Loro Parque, in Puerto de la Cruz, took no chances and closed its doors for only the fourth time in 40 years because of the threatened inclement weather. Schools in the north were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on each municipality, and there
were power cuts in the North. Moderate to heavy rain was expected in many areas, accompanied by strong winds as the day progressed, and the best advice was: “If you don’t need to go out, then don’t!” Tenerife Cabildo on high alert, battened down the hatches in readiness by implementing its Island Emergency Plan. The Cabildo gave a cautionary warning to all residents to make sure their properties were secure, with doors and windows firmly closed. “If you have to go out,” said a
spokesman, “try not to walk on narrow, tree-lined roads, and stay away from old buildings or those under construction.” Astonishingly, amid the impending mayhem on Tuesday, a forest fire started in Los Realejos during the evening because of a falling electrical cable. It spread rapidly as the wind got up, but, fortunately, it was under control by 8.15am on Wednesday. By that time, however, the rain had teemed down overnight, and there was no
let-up throughout the day as the storm took hold. The Cabildo remained on a state of alert and Jose Antonio Valbuena, head of Security, said his relevant sections were well prepared to deal with any incident. Fire brigades, forest brigades and road maintenance personnel were all on standby, while the Council of Tenerife Island Water (CIAFT) kept a continuous watch on the barrancos and ravines in case of flooding. Continued on page 12.