The Decentralized State (Estado Autonómico) Put to the Test: A Political Assessment of the Management of the DANA Event in Valencia on October 29, 2024

Abstract

On October 29, 2024, one of the most devastating disasters in decades to strike the Iberian Mediterranean—and one of the largest in Europe—occurred in Valencia. A catastrophic flood caused by torrential rainfall affected 75 municipalities, resulting in 228 deaths. The event led to the collapse of services, critical infrastructure, mobility, and economic activity, impacting one-third of the entire productive network in the province of Valencia. Although it is still too early to determine political or legal responsibilities or to fully assess the emotional, socioeconomic, and political impacts, seven months after the tragedy, it is already possible to draw valuable conclusions regarding the capacity of Spain’s decentralized state model to manage extreme climaterelated events. This paper offers a preliminary assessment of the DANA event management from the perspective of territorial governance and the response of state actors to an extraordinary critical situation. It analyzes systemic inertia, governance shortcomings, and institutional deficits; evaluates the effects of extreme political polarization and its impact on policy efforts; outlines key lessons learned from the disaster response; and provides recommendations to political and private stakeholdersbased on available expert knowledge and insights derived from the management of the catastrophe