« The rain is expected to stop between 5 and 6 pm today , although tomorrow there could be light rainfall again between 12 and 2 pm. The wind, however, should cease between 9 and 10 pm ».
The Civil Protection Department and the regional ARPAS agency have issued a weather update, with Cyclone Harry leaving Sardinia and moving eastward. However, the major emergency isn't over: " Rivers remain under maximum vigilance ."
At the 12:00 press briefing at the Civil Protection headquarters, an initial assessment of these three days of serious emergency was made. Present were Environment Councilor Rosanna Laconi, the organization's Director General, Mauro Merella, and the Director of the Risk Forecasting Service, Sergio Deiana. ARPAS meteorologist Lorenzo Smorlesi and ENAS Director Giuliano Patteri also joined the meeting via video conference.
Now the damage assessment begins: "As a political party," Laconi said, "we are already assuring our support to the affected populations." Regarding how these assessments will be carried out, Merella explained: "We have already asked the mayors to proceed with the assessments together with the technicians we are providing."
The data will then be forwarded to the Region, which "has already established contact with the Ministry of Infrastructure," Laconi and Merella emphasized. Regional President Alessandra Todde has opened channels of communication with all relevant ministries: the final outcome of the dialogue could be the declaration of a state of natural disaster.
Satisfaction, however, with the emergency management: "The priority was to ensure human safety, and we worked accordingly. Of course, we had time to organize the assistance system, notifying the mayors starting Friday evening," Laconi summarized.
Regarding the risk of flooding, Deiana explained that "everything is under control," including the Flumendosa, Cedrino, and Rio Posada rivers, the ones most affected by the flood. "We're trying to contain, as much as possible, the downstream discharges," meaning the water flowing into the sea, Patteri said.
