Severe floods hit Ibiza last week, we are seeing increased threats of extreme weather across Europe with areas like Valencia, Costa Teguise (Lanzarote) and Budapest being hit with high volumes of rain in a short period of time, leaving many unprepared. Ibiza itself was hit with more than half a year’s rainfall in 24 hours, leaving many homes, businesses and infrastructure defenceless.
What Caused the Ibiza Floods?
The main driver was the remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle, which dumped over 200mm of rain in a short period, overwhelming the drainage systems not built for a vast amount of flood water. You can read about the cause of the floods here.
Challenges in Flood Preparedness
Despite some advance warning, many residents and tourists were still caught by surprise. Locals talked of the inadequate early-warning systems and lack of flood warning plans. Past events in Spain and the UK have shown that even with high-tech alert systems, warnings may arrive too late or become ineffective if people stop taking them seriously.
Practical Actions for Flood Resilience
Business owners and residents can significantly reduce their personal flood risk with some following actions:
Check flood risk maps for your area and sign up for local alert systems.
Install property-level flood protection, such as flood barriers, water pumps, and non-return valves for drains.
Prepare a personal flood plan outlining essential contacts, evacuation routes, and where valuables are stored.
Keep vital documents and irreplaceable items in accessible, waterproof containers.
Make sure insurance covers flood damage and understand what your policy includes.
Stay informed: During red alerts, follow official advice, avoid travel, and move to higher floors if possible.
Real Life Flood Resilience
A key example of a successful flood resilience project happened in Zambia, Africa, where a renowned hotel chain partnered with Flood Protection Solutions to protect a property from severe rainfall. Multiple custom-designed flood barriers were required, each manufactured to precise measurements and specific angles to fit the hotel’s unique needs.
We managed not only the production of the barriers but also the international logistics. The barriers arrived ahead of a forecast period of heavy rain, allowing the hotel to install them in time and prevent damage.
Now, the hotel is significantly better prepared for future flood events, demonstrating how tailored flood protection measures and our expert support can transform a site’s resilience to extreme weather. Read more here.
If you are based overseas or in the UK and interested in talking about how you can protect your assets from flooding, speak to one of our team today.