VZCZCXRO0237
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHLI #0069/01 0531501
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221501Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8121
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0048
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000069 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DCHA JBRAUSE, SREICHLE; OFDA FOR CCHAN, ACONVERY, RANDREW, 
SBALLOU 
BUDAPEST FOR USAID/OFDA JACK MYER 
 
TAGS: EAID SOCI PREF PHUM PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL FLOOD DISASTER DECLARATION 
 
LISBON 00000069  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. This is an action request - please see Paragraph 7. 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶2. More than a normal month's worth of rain fell within eight hours 
on February 20, in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, a Portuguese 
island 1,200 kilometers southwest of Lisbon, causing flash floods 
and mudslides that killed at least 43 people, injured more than 120, 
and left hundreds homeless.  Hundreds more are still missing. 
Rescue workers worked through the night clearing rocks, trees, and 
mud in Funchal and other coastal communities.  Assistance will be 
needed in the coming days to restore basic services, including 
potable water and electric power, and in rebuilding roads.  Though 
the full extent of the damage will not be known for some time, the 
situation is beyond the GOP's capacity to manage.  The government 
has declared an emergency situation and requested international 
assistance.  It is in the USG interest to provide assistance.  Post 
requests USG international disaster resources.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. Although the rains have abated, the U.S. Consular Agent in 
Funchal reports that the streets are impassable, either filled with 
mud or several feet of debris.  In some cases, the tops of cars are 
barely visible above the rocks.  Major shopping centers were totally 
destroyed, with six feet of water filling the lowest floors, and two 
or three levels of underground parking completely filled with water. 
 Many businesses were totally wiped out.  The high death toll has 
forced authorities to use the international airport as a temporary 
mortuary.  Emergency teams are working on re-establishing 
electricity and water supply.  Phone lines have been down; emergency 
services have had to send calls out for off-duty doctors and nurses 
to report for work via the radio. 
 
¶4. A growing number of families forced from their homes by the 
floods are being sheltered at army barracks and other locations, and 
are receiving some assistance from NGOs and local authorities.  Many 
lost all their possessions and endured traumatic escapes. 
 
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 
------------------- 
 
¶5. Portuguese authorities rushed aid beginning February 20, 
dispatching a Navy frigate and preparing a C-130 transport plane 
loaded with rescue teams, divers, and equipment to clear blocked 
roads, replace destroyed bridges, and repair downed power and 
telephone lines.  Prime Minister Jose Socrates and Interior Minister 
Rui Pereira flew to Funchal to meet with regional government 
officials, pledging the central government's full support.  On 
February 22, following a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the 
situation in Funchal, Socrates announced three days of national 
mourning for the victims and pledged to work closely with the 
Madeiran government to assess the damages and to request EU funds to 
address the situation.  Local authorities announced that a request 
to ask for EU funds to face the material losses caused by the storm 
would soon be submitted.  European Commission President Jose Durao 
Barroso, who hails from Portugal, announced February 21 that the EU 
stood ready to provide assistance. 
 
¶6. Madeira is a small community and the U.S. Consular Agent, who has 
surveyed the organizations on the ground, advises that Caritas 
Diocesana, a Catholic relief services NGO, is currently helping the 
hundreds of people displaced by the flooding and landslides. 
According to the Consular Agent, Caritas is linked to the diocese 
network on the island, has the confidence of the residents, and is 
the only NGO that has the necessary infrastructure already in place. 
 He believes Caritas is best placed to utilize short term 
international donations.  Post believes that it would be in the best 
interests of the USG to provide assistance through this disaster 
declaration to this organization.  Specifically, Post requests 
$50,000 for Caritas to purchase food, clothing, blankets, and other 
necessities for the hundreds of homeless people currently living in 
army barracks. 
DISASTER DECLARATION 
-------------------- 
¶7. Due to the humanitarian effects of the flooding and resulting 
landslides in Madeira, Embassy Lisbon declares that a disaster 
exists and that it is in the interests of the USG to provide 
humanitarian assistance.  The GOP has requested international 
assistance and the situation is beyond its capacity to manage. 
USAID/OFDA is requested to make available $50,000 to U.S. Embassy 
Lisbon for support to Madeira as described above. 
 
¶8. Post will continue to track the situation and stay in close 
contact with OFDA through post's Mission Disaster Relief Officer, 
Deputy Polcouns Mario Fernandez, as the situation evolves and any 
other needs emerge. 
 
For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about 
Portugal, please see our Intelink site: 
 
 
LISBON 00000069  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal 
 
BALLARD