(This is an abridged translation from an edict issued this afternoon by Adeje Town Hall)
Having regard to the fact that the Directorate General for Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, in application of Decree 18/2014, of 20 March which approves the Specific Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan of the Canary Islands due to the Risk of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA), ADEJE declares an ALERT situation for maximum temperatures and a PREALERT for maximum temperatures and a PREALERT for risk of heat waves for the Canary Islands.
There is also an ALERT for risk of forest fires, in application of Decree 60/2014 of 29 May, which approves the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Forest Fires in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (INFOCA).
Having regard to the forecasts made by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) for the coming days, where yellow warnings have been issued for the Canary Islands for maximum temperatures which will affect, amongst others, the eastern, southern and western slopes of Tenerife; Given that the arrival of an African air mass in the Canary archipelago will provoke a significant rise in temperatures and the presence of calimas in average daily concentrations of mineral dust on the surface, with a 90% to 100% probability of exceeding 50 micrograms/m3 for this Thursday, generating poor air quality.
Adeje declares:
FIRST.- Initiation of the preventive activation of the Municipal Emergency Plan (PEMAD), in a situation of ALERT due to maximum temperatures and risk of forest fires, as well as the PRE-ALERT for calima in the entire municipality of Adeje.
SECOND.- These measures take effect as of 10:00 a.m. on 11 April 2024, with the following date pending agreement on the return to normality or the updating of the detailed situation.
THIRD.- Specific actions:
• Communicate the preventive activation of the PEMAD to the CECOES 1-1-2, to the Cabildo of Tenerife, to the Headquarters of the Local Police Force and to the Civil Protection Volunteers of Adeje.
• To set up the CECOPAL (emergency response body) as a preventive measure in order to initiate preparation to reduce response times in the event of possible interventions.
• To inform and alert the different municipal authorities and members of the municipal corporation linked to their areas of competence.
• Establish mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on the situation. Be attentive to the meteorological information and, specifically, to the warnings issued by the
CECOES 1-1-2.
As far as possible, mobilise the resources of the local police and civil protection to set up surveillance services in the interface areas.
Civil Protection to set up surveillance services in the most sensitive urban-forest interface areas of the municipality.
FOURTH.- Inform the population of the municipality about the risk situation and the recommendations issued by the General Directorate of Civil Protection via the website of the Town Council, the municipal radio station and other available means of communication, ensuring maximum dissemination, reminding the population that for any questions or clarifications they should contact the local police and Civil Protection (922747206-922716508), or the case of an emergency they should call 112 or 012 if they need information.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
HEATWAVE
• Protect yourself and family members from the heat and sun
• Stay indoors when you can, in the coolest part of the house, keep blinds down to keep the house cool
• Open windows at night when the air is cooler
• Use air conditioners/fans
• Be aware of the rapid changes in temperature you may experience when you change from indoors to outdoors
• Outdoors do wear a sun hat, comfortable light clothing
• Drink lots of water
• Reduce any physical activities during the hottest hours of the day
• Avoid alcohol
• Check on any family members or elderly neighbours who might be affected by the heat
FOREST FIRES
• During an alert situation
• No barbecues or fires in mountain areas
• Careful with any lit material, cigarette ends, broken glass, anything that might spark a fire
• If you see a forest fire phone 112
• Observe the direction of the fire so you can safely leave the area
• If there is already smoke in the zone, cover your nose and mouth with a damp cloth
• Do not drive or approach any zone with a fire in progress
