The Government of Spain launches direct aid for those affected by the DANA, which can be applied for from today

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has chaired a new meeting of the crisis committee to monitor the effects of the hurricane, which was also attended by the three vice-presidents and six ministers.

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

ºAt the end of the meeting, the Undersecretary of Home Affairs, Susana Crisóstomo, and the Director General of Insurance, José Antonio Fernández, reported on the agreements at a press conference.

Both announced that today the Government is enabling direct aid to alleviate those affected by the DANA, which can be applied for from now until 7 January 2025 in the sub-delegations of the Government, the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the website of the Directorate General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, public registries and post offices. The Insurance Compensation Consortium yesterday started paying out the first compensation claims, after receiving more than 116,000 claims in eight days.

Crisóstomo explained that the Royal Decree-Law, which came into force today, offers greater coverage by introducing notable improvements in terms of the regulations generally applicable to aid for civil protection emergencies, because the amounts are quadrupled, the procedures are simplified and requirements are eliminated. These benefits are made universal, so that they can reach all affected households regardless of income thresholds.

The planned aid amounts to €72,000 for deaths and cases of absolute permanent disability; €60,480 for total destruction of the home; €41,280 for structural damage; €20,640 for non-structural damage; €10,320 to replace or repair furniture, electrical appliances and basic necessities and €36,896 to repair elements of residents' associations, such as doorways and lifts. The Ministry of Home Affairs aid alone will amount to approximately €118 million.

Applications for aid can be made from today, Thursday, until next Tuesday, 7 January 2025, by the victim or their representative. Applications can now be made at government sub-delegations, the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the website of the Directorate General for Civil Protection and Emergencies, public registries and post offices.

Mobile offices for free DNI processing

Crisóstomo also announced that the National Police has set up three mobile offices for the free issue of ID cards in Benetúser, Alfafar and Sedaví, to which three more will be added in the next few hours or days, in Chiva, Utiel and Paiporta.

In addition, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is going to issue an instruction tomorrow that will allow the processing of duplicate driving licences, vehicle registration documents and temporary and permanent write-offs, free of charge. To facilitate the completion of procedures, all of this can be done electronically through the DGT website, at the headquarters of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters in Valencia, or through the administrative managers in Valencia, and there will be no fees.

Elimination of formalities and requirements

The Undersecretary of Home Affairs wanted to send a clear message to those affected, and that is that "bureaucracy will not be a problem for processing and receiving aid". To this effect, for the first request, all that is required is the form that can be downloaded from the ministry's website and the bank details, while the administration itself will be responsible for collecting the personal details.

In the case of death grants, the requirement of economic dependency is eliminated so that parents and children of legal age can receive the grants. For personal injury and damage to property, there will be no limit on the amount of rent. To prove ownership of the property, presenting an IBI receipt or a similar document will be sufficient. In the case of aid to industrial, commercial and service establishments, up to 100% of the expenses will be subsidised; and for local corporations, expenses not contemplated until now are included, such as unpostponable actions.

Damage compensation payments begin

Meanwhile, the Director General of Insurance, José Antonio Fernández, explained that the Insurance Compensation Consortium, which depends on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, is already making the first payments to those affected by the damage suffered by the DANA. Claims can be submitted on the Consortium's website, and in the case of individuals, the cover refers to life insurance for deceased persons, cars and homes, companies, industries, businesses and commercial premises for building and contents, stocks and loss of profits, and public bodies for premises of town councils or public centres.

Fernández detailed that more than 116,000 claims have already been received, which is "the equivalent of a year's worth of claims received in eight days", and that "on some of the days we received the same number of claims as the totals made for the Lorca earthquake and the La Palma volcano". Of the applications submitted, about half are already being processed. Of these, around 60% correspond to vehicles and automobiles and 31% to homes and homeowners' associations, together with more than 6,800 shops and warehouses, more than 500 offices, some 2,200 industrial buildings, and more than twenty civil works.

More than 800 expert witnesses: agility and video expertise

Agents and insurance companies have made all their resources available to provide the Consortium with information and thereby speed up the processing of applications. A total of 800 experts have been deployed, a figure that is expected to double next week, which is when the areas most affected will be determined so that "at least the minimum amount known for each of the losses can be paid to the injured parties", explained Fernández. Similarly, video-expert appraisals are being used to provide an initial assessment of the damage, anticipate amounts and allow companies and individuals to make progress in reconstruction.

10,000 National Police and Guardia Civil agents deployed

Crisóstomo also updated the number of National Police and Guardia Civil officers deployed, which now exceeds 10,000. The Government thanked the public employees who "have been committed from the very first moment, as well as the work of "thousands of volunteers from all over Spain".

Non official translation

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• Aid from the Immediate Response, Reconstruction and Relaunching Plan

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Tags:

• DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels)
• Government of Spain