Regional Government assesses damages caused by storms in ten million Euros and announces support measures
The President of the Regional Government met with several members of the Government this morning to analyse the damages caused by bad weather as well as the adopted measures to support the population and to recover the damaged infrastructures, and approve other measures that may be considered appropriate.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, Carlos César announced that the Government has already decided to plan surfacing works in some sections of the agricultural roads parallel to the Via Vitorino Nemesio on Terceira Island; the reinforcement of three bridges in the village of Quatro Ribeiras, including a major renewal in the bridge of Ribeira Grande; the strengthening of an embankment slope in the Caldeirão road on Corvo Island; the repair of a small set of port infrastructures, including the replacement of light beacons on the island of Corvo and in Lajes do Pico, and the repair of some damages at the Lajes terminal on Terceira Island.
“The Government will also support ten small commercial establishments, replacing the damaged equipments and repairing minor damages caused by floods. Moreover, the Government has re-housed nine families in new houses, five on Terceira and four on São Miguel where some the re-housing of another two families is expected to take place,” added Carlos César.
Nearly two dozens of houses located in the areas which were most affected by the floods, mainly on the Island of Terceira, were considered unsafe. The respective owners and the local authorities are being informed that the best solutions to solve the problem are being studied.
“A support of 200 thousand Euros has already been allocated to various households on Terceira Island for the acquisition of domestic equipments. A similar support will also be allocated on São Miguel Island,” said Carlos César.
As a consequence of the storms that hit the archipelago, the Government estimates to carry out major interventions in the planning of streams, particularly on Terceira Island, an investment that should reach three million Euros.
“We will also start in the first quarter of 2010 the works to protect the coastline in area adjacent to Rocha Quebrada in the hamlet of Atalhada. There were small interventions in some sections of agricultural roads. The Government also estimates to carry out renewal works in several roads and as well as in the water supply systems to farms that were affected by the bad weather. The estimated losses may reach a total of three or four million Euros,” revealed Carlos César.
Furthermore, the Government also estimates the need to recover feeding stocks for cattle in some situations. With regard to the structures to support fishing, there were only minor damages on most islands, which nearly reach to four hundred thousand Euros.
Concerning the assessment of the damages - within the powers and actions to be undertaken by the Government and the support awarded to some municipal investments - we estimate a total amount exceeding ten million Euros.
“We think that with slight reorientations of the public investment, solving the problems and carrying out the necessary investments will be possible without additional funding,” concluded the President of the Government.