The DANA and volunteers, an example of solidarity in difficult times

What is the DANA?

The DANA (isolated depression at high levels.) It is an atmospheric situation that occurs when a mass of cold air moves at height, having been isolated from the main air currents. When it collides with the warm and humid air on the surface, strong instabilities occur giving rise to intense rain and thunderstorms. This phenomenon occurs especially in the Mediterranean basin, where climatic conditions are conducive to its formation.

Heavy rains, intense winds and torrential storms are just some of the phenomena that usually accompany the DANA. Apart from the obvious material damage and the impact on infrastructure, this phenomenon tests the resilience of entire communities and highlights the invaluable work of the volunteers who mobilize to help. A clear example is the catastrophe suffered by the residents of the metropolitan area of Valencia last October. 

In these times of crisis, immediate intervention is crucial not only for rescuing those affected, but for providing them with basic goods such as water, food, shelter and above all company. In this scenario, the role of volunteers takes on extraordinary relevance, sometimes as the first line of response in many places where institutional resources are slow to arrive or as a line of continuity and trust once the most serious effects of the storm are being gradually mitigated, but the pain of loss persists.

Many of the volunteers involved in these situations are driven by a desire to help their neighbours and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

The role of volunteers in the DANA 

• Rescue and evacuation: taking people in, helping people trapped in their homes, rescuing those at risk, even risking their own integrity, and facilitating the transfer to safe places.

• Cleaning and rebuilding: After the storm has passed, reconstruction work begins. Volunteers participate in helping to clean up debris, restoring roads, sanitizing belongings and the rehabilitating all types of spaces, both community and private.. 

• Food distribution and basic supplies: many volunteers choose to work at distribution points to deliver food, water and blankets to affected people or help in the cooking so that neighbours, volunteers and emergency services can be offered a plate of hot food during the working day.

• Connecting families: immediately after the disaster, communications play a fundamental role for aiding people to communicate with the family environment or for requesting aid and support. In this last case of DANA in Spain, many towns were cut off from communications for several days, so contacting those affected and knowing their condition was essential for many worried relatives who could not access the area. Social networks were a very practical tool to put relatives of those affected in contact with volunteers in the area, who did have an internet connection, and who offered to go to check the state of health of those affected at home, helping some families to communicate with others. 

• Accompaniment and psychological support: Material losses and the traumatic experience of a natural disaster have an emotional impact, which is why many volunteers dedicate their efforts to providing psychological support or simply to accompanying the victims in their day-to-day lives to provide them with their support and comfort.