Italy suffers from hail and violent storms in the North, sultry heat and fires in the South. And while the regions are counting the damage to buildings, infrastructures and agriculture, the death toll (direct or indirect) rises to 5 dead , the government is ready to declare it state of emergency for Lombardia, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia e Sicilia. "What is happening in the North and in the South are the two sides of the same coin: climate change", declared the Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci. And he added: “Right now we have to try to save what can be saved. There is a coincidence of elements which makes the situation very complex. It is one of the most difficult days from a climatic point of view in recent years. The force of nature tends to overwhelm that of man”.
According to a preliminary estimate, Lombardy has suffered over 41,4 million euros damage: of which 24,7 for the public sector and 16,7 for the private sector. But the president of the Region Attilio Fontana estimates the damage at over 100 million euros: "the reports of the events of the last few days and those in progress are still missing". In Friuli Venezia-Giulia the hailstorms destroyed almost 80% of the crops for a preliminary damage estimated at 150 million euros. And while the North drowns, the South burns. In Sicily, fires destroyed thousands of hectares of woods and Mediterranean scrub, as well as private buildings and monuments: such as the fifteenth-century convent of Santa Maria di Gesù in Palermo.
What is a state of emergency and how does it work?
The state of emergency is a measure provided for by law 225/1992 and can be proclaimed in the event of exceptional events, such as earthquakes, floods or as happened during the Covid-19. It is approved by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the prime minister, a minister with portfolio or the president of a region that has suffered the damage. It lasts one year and can be extended for another 12 months. With the state of emergency, the bureaucratic process is being streamlined to deploy the resources to deal with problems, including through the allocation of extraordinary funds.
Lombardia
Uprooted trees, destroyed cars and flooded roads. A tragic night – the one between Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 July – for most of the Lombardia, included Milano: in 10 minutes 40mm of water fell on the whole city. From an initial estimate made together with the commercial operators, the damages for the Milanese trade are around 2 million euros. There have been reports of uncovered roofs, due to strong gusts of wind (at 100 kilometers per hour) which have also broken through or opened the windows of the house with consequent flooding.
The surface network of public transport is in fits and starts: due to the damage suffered by the lines but above all to the fallen trees (we are talking about over 350) on the roads which have compromised the normal road network. Then the storm damaged several terraces of bars and restaurants, while motorcycles and bicycles were blown to the ground by the wind. And then there are the damages to the attractiveness of the city, the schools, summer camps and parks closed to examine the interventions to be programmed with higher priority. Many museums are still closed.
Veneto
Even in Veneto the reconnaissance of the damages due to bad weather is underway. The region has been “bombed,” the president said, Luca Zaia: "We need economic refreshments for the affected areas: that's what we will ask of the state". In addition to the state of emergency of the Civil Protection for all damage to property and people, "we will make the request for a state of calamity with regard to agriculture: in particular, it is requested that funds be intervened to deal with these damages, but also with a whole series of moratoriums and aids for farms with respect to deadlines and taxation”, concluded Zaia.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Even in Friuli-Venezia Giulia thunderstorms and strong winds battered the region. In particular, Udine. Trees have fallen and the roofs of several houses have been taken off. Hail bombed houses and cars, smashing the windshields of hundreds of cars. Damage also to power lines, with blackouts in various areas of the region.
There is also severe traffic disruption. Several roads blocked due to fallen branches and trees; in the Mortegliano area the traffic lights had all blown. The wind also blew away several road signs.
“We are signing the state of emergency, the region is heavily affected. We will intervene to give quick and efficient answers. We are writing a 50 million euro amendment and I am confident that Rome too will deploy resources to deal with the situation. In coordination with the Municipalities, site inspections will begin to verify the damage. The agricultural sector risks being heavily penalised,” he said Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga, governor of Friuli-Venezia.
Emilia Romagna
Bad weather does not spare even theEmilia Romagna, especially areas already devastated by last month's floods. Here too roads interrupted by fallen trees and hundreds of rubbish bins displayed outside the houses for door-to-door collection.
The president of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, has already announced the request for a state of emergency after last Saturday's storms, in order to "intervene as soon as possible and effectively to restore what was destroyed and guarantee reimbursements".
Sicilia
The situation is dramatic Sicilia besieged by flames. “I am waiting – explained the governor of the region, Renato Schifani – of the report by the Civil Protection on the fires. There are huge damages still unquantifiable and numerous fires still active. I trust - he added - in a rapid and positive response from the national government, so that we can start planning the first interventions as soon as possible ".
