The mayor of Albenga, Riccardo Tomatis, attended a meeting organized by the regional member of the executive cabinet (assessore) for Civil Protection, Giacomo Raul Giampedrone, alongside other mayors from Savona’s municipalities affected by the severe weather. The goal was to discuss the damage caused by adverse weather conditions between September 5 and October 27.
Tomatis emphasized the importance of including the climate events of September 5 in the request for national disaster status and highlighted the need to plan structural hydraulic safety interventions in the area.
The mayor stated: “I thank Assessore Giampedrone for his readiness in every emergency situation. I contacted him immediately after the disastrous event that struck Albenga on September 5, and he offered his support, as he always does.”
Albenga has invested substantial amounts for urgent interventions: 378,051.24 euros for the event on September 4-5 and 124,947.27 euros for the one on October 16-17. These actions were essential for the safety measures in various areas and the cleaning of streets.
Tomatis explained: “We covered about 500,000 euros of damage to public property with municipal funds, but we are hopeful for external support.”
The agricultural sector suffered significant damages, estimated at around 20 million euros. The mayor added: “The main focus has been the damage sustained by agricultural businesses. The agricultural sector in Albenga is comparable to an industry, being the driving force of the Albenga plain’s economy and, to some extent, of the Italian economy as well. About 30% of the revenue from the nursery and floriculture sector comes from the Albenga plain.”
Tomatis emphasized the need for a plan to safeguard farms, noting that “in light of climate change, these events can no longer be seen as exceptional.” He concluded by stressing the importance of a pathway that includes the reorganization of the hydraulic network of the Ingauna plain. Adverse Weather: Liguria Region Estimates 100 Million Euros in Damages in Savona Province
