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With the worst of the recent storms now easing, attention in Andalucía is turning from emergency response to recovery, as the Junta de Andalucía confirms it is already working on a wide-ranging reconstruction plan following weeks of severe weather that have left losses running into the billions.

 

Although risks remain in some areas and thousands of residents are still unable to return home, the regional government has begun designing a recovery strategy to mitigate the damage caused to agriculture, infrastructure, tourism and commerce. The plan is being drawn up while individual ministries complete their final damage assessments.

 

Speaking during a visit to Lora del Río, the Minister of Economy, Finance and European Funds, Carolina España, said the Junta “will spare no resources” to help those affected. She confirmed that work on the reconstruction plan has been underway since last week, although its full scope depends on the final figures. “If we have to find resources wherever we can, we will,” she said, adding that the regional budget could be reprogrammed if necessary.

 

Agriculture has been hit particularly hard. The primary sector is expected to be around 20% affected, with losses exceeding €520 million in the province of Cádiz alone, according to estimates from Asaja. This follows weeks of rainfall that brought both relief to reservoirs and major disruption to farms across the region. Farming organisations, including COAG Andalucía, have called for urgent aid, tax reductions and exemptions from property tax.

 

Infrastructure repairs will add significantly to the bill. The Junta estimates that damage to roads, schools and rural paths has already reached around €500 million, based on an initial provisional assessment, after more than 350 incidents were addressed across the regional road network.

 

The impact is also being felt by businesses. The Andalusian Confederation of Commerce reports losses of between 20% and 30% on rainy days, rising to as much as 70% when weather alerts were in force, while street traders have demanded support measures due to lost trading days.

 

Meanwhile, the central government has pledged to activate state aid. During visits to Huétor Tájar and Villanueva de la Reina on Monday February 9, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said assistance would arrive “promptly” and called for unity between institutions. He expressed “absolute empathy and solidarity” with families facing uncertainty after the floods.

 

Despite gradual improvements, 5,875 people remain displaced as of Monday, and 32 schools across Andalucía will stay closed this Tuesday. With new, lighter weather fronts forecast later this week, authorities continue to urge caution as the long recovery begins.

 

 

Image: Guardia Civil