The Lanzarote Island Council suspends outdoor activities and closes facilities due to storm 'Claudia'

The Cabildo of Lanzarote has activated the Island Emergency Plan (PEIN) from 00:00 hours this Thursday due to the alert for storms, rain, strong winds, and rough seas caused by storm Claudia, which is expected to affect the islands of Lanzarote and La Graciosa starting from the early hours of tomorrow morning. 

For this reason, the Cabildo of Lanzarote has suspended all outdoor activities and has declared the closure of cultural, educational, and sports facilities in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, as well as visits to day centers and nursing homes while the alert is in effect. 

The Lanzarote Sports City, the Insular Center for Musical Education (CEIM), the Insular Library, and all other island-owned premises will also remain closed from 00:00 hours until the end of the alert. 

The Cabildo of Lanzarote requests the population of both islands to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel while the alert is in effect, and invites citizens to contact the Security and Emergency Consortium in case of any incident that this storm may cause

Regarding the general population, the following prevention and action measures are recommended for heavy rainfall and flood risk:

Precautions:

• Pay attention to the weather forecasts and the recommendations of the authorities in this regard.

• Check the condition of roofs, terraces, and water tanks, as well as drains and downspouts.

• Even if the sky is clear, do not park your vehicle in dry riverbeds.

• Check and have flashlights or candles, camping gas stoves in anticipation of power outages, drinking water, medicines, battery-powered radio, etc., ready.

• Close and secure windows and doors to prevent water entry. Small protections can help shelter you in case of flooding.

• Avoid hiking, going on excursions, or camping until normal conditions are restored.

• Avoid cycling or handbiking on island roads.

• Avoid road travel; if you must travel, exercise extreme caution and do not cross areas that may flood.

How to act:

• Tune into local radio stations and follow the instructions given.

• If you notice that the storm is accompanied by lightning, close the windows and doors of your home as air currents attract lightning.

• Unplug electrical appliances to prevent them from being damaged by a power surge or causing electric shocks.

• In case of flooding, disconnect the main electricity switch of the home.

• If the storm catches you while driving, reduce your speed and exercise extreme caution as the road may be affected by debris.

• Do not stop in areas where large amounts of water may flow, nor cross flooded sections to avoid being swept away by the force of the water.

• Stay away from towers, fences, or any other metal structure.

• Do not take shelter under trees. Remember that wet wood is also a conductor of electricity.

• In the city, buildings can protect you from the risk of electric shocks.

• In the countryside, seek low-lying areas, avoiding deep valleys; the slopes of mountains are safer.

• Avoid making phone calls to prevent lines from becoming overloaded.

• In case of emergency, do not hesitate to call 1-1-2

• For any information requests, call 0-12

ALWAYS REMAIN CALM

STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE MEDIA.

Regarding the general population, the following prevention and action measures for wind are recommended:

HOW TO PREVENT:

• Close doors and windows to prevent drafts that can lead to broken and falling glass.

• Remove flowerpots and all objects from balconies and rooftops that could fall into the street.

• Inspect homes to ensure there are no cornices, balconies, or facades in poor condition that could cause falling debris and rubble.

• Avoid going on excursions or camping until normal conditions are restored.

• Try to postpone road travel and, if you must travel, exercise extreme caution. Public transportation is recommended.

• Motorcycles and large vehicles that offer a large surface area exposed to the wind (trucks, vans, vehicles with trailers or caravans) are at risk of tipping over in crosswinds.

How to act

• Avoid walking through gardens or wooded areas.

• Stay away from walls, old houses, scaffolding, illuminated signs, billboards, and other structures that could be blown down by the wind.

• Light poles and power towers are dangerous. Stay away and, in case of risk, call 1-1-2.

• In case of risk from construction cranes, immediately call 1-1-2.

• Try to stay away from the coast (beaches, promenades, pier jetties, etc.) to avoid being hit or swept away by the action of the waves.

• Drive slowly and cautiously due to the possible presence of obstacles on the road or gusts of wind that could cause you to lose control of your vehicle, especially when overtaking.

• Avoid making phone calls to prevent lines from becoming overloaded.

• In case of emergency, do not hesitate to call 1-1-2

• For any information requests, call 0-12

REMAIN CALM AT ALL TIMES

STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE MEDIA.

Regarding the affected municipalities on the island, the following actions are recommended due to the risk of rain/flooding:

• Keep sewers, drains, gullies, possible water crossings, among others, clean to facilitate water drainage.

• Remove leaf litter, accumulated soil, and/or other materials that may clog and block sewers, channels, etc. And check these drainage points whenever rain is forecast or after heavy downpours.

• Provide signage for flood-prone areas in the municipality (vehicle parking lots, campsites).

• Monitor areas prone to landslides.

• Inform and alert municipal officials and members of the municipal organization.

• Pay attention to meteorological information and, in particular, to warnings issued by CECOES 1-1-2. Establish surveillance and information mechanisms regarding the situation.

• Determine surveillance points with the following functions:

1. Mark or beacon the flood-prone areas of the municipality: avoid parking vehicles, check that there are no campers, ensure that activities that could be affected are not carried out, …

2. Pay special attention to ravines, which often lead to rapid and dangerous floods.

3. Block traffic on roads or paths leading to flood-prone areas (traffic control). Especially mark and block fords.

4. Notify the population in areas where the evolving situation makes flooding foreseeable.

• Make a forecast of available and necessary resources.

• Establish the corresponding notifications for emergency services, basic services, and entities. Municipal organization members must be notified of the emergency to communicate the alert status. In particular, the constitution of the PEMU's Emergency Advisory Committee.

• Communicate the activation of the municipal plan to the CECOES 1-1-2.

• Use the TETRA RESCAN network for communications with CECOES 1-1-2, if available.

• Evaluate the constitution of the CECOPAL and the PEMU's management and advisory bodies.

• Evaluate the need to close sports, educational, cultural, etc., activities.

• Other tasks deemed appropriate for this situation.

Regarding the affected municipalities on the island, the following actions are recommended due to wind risk:

• Anticipate the signage of areas with landslide risk in the municipality.

• Control areas of potential landslides.

• Inform and alert municipal officials and members of the municipal organization. Otherwise, activate municipal services that can act in such situations (local police, volunteer groups, public works and services personnel, water and sewage services, etc.)

• Pay attention to meteorological information and, in particular, to warnings issued by CECOES 1-1-2. Establish surveillance and information mechanisms regarding the situation.

• Establish corresponding warnings for emergency services, basic services, and entities.

• Communicate the activation of the Plan to CECOES 1-1-2

• Use the TETRA RESCA network as the primary radiocommunication system with CECOES1-1-2.

• Control access to promenades, breakwaters, and seawalls and evaluate the development of sports and/or social activities.

• Determine Surveillance Points with the following functions:

1. Monitor scaffolding, cranes, and other construction elements in your municipality and confirm they are secured.

2. Secure street furniture, trash containers, or any other object that could cause an accident.

3. Monitor non-permanent, portable, or demountable installations such as tents and secure them.

• Make a forecast of available and necessary resources.

• Carry out other preventive tasks that you deem appropriate for this situation.

• Confirm that there are no people camping in your municipality in a risk zone and monitor the camping facilities in your municipality, if any.

• Evaluate the constitution of the CECOPAL and the management and advisory bodies of the PEMU.

• Inform the population of your municipality about the risk situation due to strong winds and the recommended preventive measures.