Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>At least 62 people have been killed in the worst flooding to hit Spain in decades.</li><li>Flash floods are becoming more common and more intense due to global warming.</li></ul>At least 62 people have been killed and many more are missing in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-flooding-51-dead-in-valencia-region-economic-hub-2024-10">worst flooding to hit Spain in decades</a>.Torrential rain hit parts of the country on Tuesday, cutting off main roads, delaying flights, and damaging homes.The rain was the result of a weather phenomenon known as a cold drop, in which cold air moves over warm water.The warm air then rises rapidly, leading to the formation of huge cumulonimbus clouds capable of releasing violent downpours that can devastate towns and cities.Such extreme weather events have a huge human and economic cost — and scientists believe global warming, combined with the way humans have developed the natural landscape, will only make the problem worse.<h2 id="971184fb-8d33-48d1-979d-6445b6e539be">The cost of extreme weather</h2>Estimates for the economic costs of extreme weather and flooding vary, but many tend to agree that they are on the rise.According to the European Environment Agency, extreme weather in Europe caused economic losses of assets estimated at more than $800 billion between 1980 and 2023.Last year, a study by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/09/climate-crisis-cost-extreme-weather-damage-study">Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand</a> said the damage caused by the climate crisis through extreme weather has cost $16 million an hour for the past 20 years.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/extreme-weather-economic-cost-wef23/">The World Economic Forum</a> calculated that the cost of extreme events had increased nearly eight times globally, inflation-adjusted, since the 1970s.The impact of flash flooding can be particularly severe because, often, there is very little warning.<h2 id="8409be50-c212-466d-bbd2-62c416ac5204">Flash flooding in dry areas</h2>Flash floods are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-flash-flood-warning-how-to-stay-safe-vermont-2023-7">different from regular flooding</a> because they develop quickly, in the span of a few hours or even minutes.They can be far more devastating in dry areas because parched soil tends to repel water rather than allow it to soak in.That means surges can result from as little as 10 millimeters in just one hour, according to a<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=3735d139977ac068c02d638e81b04695e0ab6b1d06970add3b44fafb88d52e11&amp;postID=6722014ce5b5408300715e9a&amp;postSlug=flash-floods-spain-increasing-globally-experts-infrastructure-change-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-023-00626-9.epdf%3Fno_publisher_access%3D1%26r3_referer%3Dnature"> 2023 article in Nature</a>."Our analysis using the Emergency Events Database shows that, since 2000, such regions experienced less than half (47%) of deadly flash floods globally, yet saw almost three-quarters (74%) of related deaths," the authors wrote.The same researchers found that the rate of dryland flash flooding around the world was 20 times higher between 2000 and 2022 than it was between 1900 and 1999.Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, a senior state meteorologist and member of the Spanish Meteorological Association, said flash flooding is becoming more frequent, a trend which is set to continue because of the damaging effects of global warming."Events of this type, which used to occur many decades apart, are now becoming more frequent, and their destructive capacity is greater," he said.<h2 id="c6269754-7554-446d-a63e-b8d93fdbfdc3">Why are there more flash floods?</h2>The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a US-based nonprofit, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.edf.org/why-are-floods-hitting-more-places-and-people">said</a> flash flooding has intensified because of increased rainfall and heat waves.The rise in the world's average surface temperature — which was more than 2 Degrees Fahrenheit warmer in 2020 than it was 100 years ago — has resulted in more moisture and clouds in the air, the organization said.According to the EDF, modern infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and sidewalks, has eliminated natural landscape features that would have slowed flooding in the past.It added that stormwater systems designed to protect buildings are often too old and not vast enough to handle the increasing amount of major weather events caused by global warming.Additionally, houses are continuing to be built in areas that are prone to flooding, the organization said.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/floods#tab=tab_1">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) said people who live on floodplains or in buildings without flood protections or warning systems are most vulnerable.<h2 id="283c598d-eb50-4251-afb8-e7fbf0cb4832">What can be done?</h2><div type="image" title="Emergency workers clear debris the morning after heavy rains and flash floods hit the area on October 30, 2024 in Letur, Albacete province, Spain" height="3333" width="5000" msid="114787520" hostid="261" sizebytes="2262486"></div>Non-environmental factors, such as new infrastructure and better weather warnings, can help prevent the impact of flash flooding.Jess Neumann, an associate professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said that a long-term solution would involve the "radical redesign of urban areas.""Flash floods can affect anyone, anywhere. We take preparation for other hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis very seriously with education, drills, and emergency kits," she said. "It is time we afforded the same to flood risk preparedness."John Marsham, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Leeds, agrees with Neumann's assessment."Our entire infrastructure and civilization are based around a climate that no longer exists," he said, adding that some locations are becoming more difficult to insure against flood damage.Some cities are already considering better precautions for extreme weather events. For example, in 2022, the US Army Corps of Engineers unveiled its proposal to build a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/nyregion/storm-project-new-york-harbor-flooding.html">$52 billion moveable sea barrier</a> along the New York Harbor to protect against storm surges.These protections would also allow local economies to recover faster.The EDF reported that the average flood event from excessive rainfall in the US costs around $4.7 billion.Marsham and Liz Stephens, a professor in climate risks and resilience, said that local governments should also implement stronger warnings about the risks of flash flooding to prevent death and injuries."People shouldn't be dying from these kinds of forecasted weather events in countries where they have the resources to do better," Stephens said.

Flash floods are a worsening scourge worldwide — here's why

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Spain's eastern province of Valencia was hit by intense, historic rainfall.</li><li>51 people were killed in flash floods in the province.</li></ul>Historic flash floods in eastern Spain killed 51 people and roiled the region.The floods, brought about by torrential rains, killed 51 in the province of Valencia, regional emergency services <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1851541597092999643">said</a>, citing a provisional death toll.Though heavy rains are common in the region in fall — part of a phenomenon known as "cold drops" — this one was extreme.According to Spain's State Meteorological <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/AEMET_CValencia/status/1851494356521271313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851494356521271313%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">Agency</a>, it was a historic storm, the worst of the 21st century and more severe than anything since 1987.Images and videos from the region showed brown water surging through fields, blocking roads, and hitting some built-up areas.<div type="image" title="The roof of a car submerged in water following floods is pictured in Picuana, near Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 30, 2024." height="1296" width="2000" msid="114776446" hostid="261" sizebytes="105062"></div>The flooding seemed not to strongly hit Valencia, the regional hub and Spain's third-largest city.Per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.investinspain.org/en/regions/comunidad-valenciana/industrias-destacadas#:~:text=Automotive%2C%20machinery%20and%20capital%20goods,concentrates%2024%25%20of%20regional%20exports.">a Spanish government briefing</a>, the auto industry is the most significant in Valencia province. It also mentioned chemicals, manufacturing, agri-food and IT.It was not immediately clear whether particular industries or companies had been strongly affected by the floods.Valencia's government advised against road travel in the province due to "heavy" rain warnings in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1851506499224314148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851506499224314148%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">alert texts</a> sent to residents in the early hours of Wednesday, local time.In an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/oscar_puente_/status/1851415872843215275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851415872843215275%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">X post</a> on Wednesday, Spain's transport minister said there would be no train service on the railway line connecting Valencia to Madrid, the Spanish capital, until at least 10 a.m. local time.On Tuesday, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1851334094535131602">said</a> he was closely following reports of missing people and damage caused by the storm and that all emergency services were being dispatched in response to the storm.In an X <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/mjosecatala/status/1851561473631191545">post</a> on Wednesday, Valencia city mayor said the province is facing one of the "most difficult and painful" moments in its history.

Spain hit by flash floods that killed 51 people and roiled an economic hub

<ul class="summary-list"><li>EV-related ads this election cycle are 75% negative and mostly in Michigan, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.evpolitics.org/news/ev-political-advertising-in-the-2024-election-cycle/">an analysis found.</a></li><li>Republicans claim EVs will cause massive job losses and only benefit China.</li></ul>Republicans are flooding Michigan with attacks on electric vehicles, warning they will only benefit China and spur massive job losses in the swing state.Former President Donald Trump during recent campaign events in Michigan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv35JiI3XMc">said an "EV mandate"</a> would cost hundreds of thousands of US auto jobs and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDqenog400">the industry would be gone from the state</a> within a few years because China would take all the business. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican running for Senate, made similar <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb638Gwe5Yw">warnings in a debate this week</a>.Political strategists told Business Insider that the anti-EV messaging was drowning out positive ones in Michigan, putting Democrats on the defensive in a critical battleground. The <a target="_blank" href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/michigan/biden-trump/">latest polls indicate</a> Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are neck-and-neck in Michigan, with Trump gaining ground over the past few months. While EVs aren't a major issue for American voters writ large, they've been a hot-button issue in Michigan, given the state's long legacy of auto manufacturing and skepticism among union workers."Republicans are winning a few points on it," said Mike Murphy, a longtime GOP strategist who founded the EV Politics Project, a group that supports EVs and seeks to end the partisan divide.Murphy said the attacks were frustrating because the Biden administration's investments in electric vehicles under the Inflation Reduction Act had helped spur dozens of new EV and battery manufacturing plants in Michigan and were already creating jobs."We've run some advertising trying to make the massive surge of new EV manufacturing at jobs in Michigan famous, because nobody knows about them," Murphy said. "The Biden administration has not done a good job of telling that story."The vast majority of EV-related ads this election cycle have been negative — or 75% of the $15.5 million spent so far, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.evpolitics.org/news/ev-political-advertising-in-the-2024-election-cycle/">an analysis commissioned</a> by Murphy's group found. About 70% of the ads mentioned an "EV mandate" or "gas-car ban," and most of the spending was in Michigan.There is no mandate or ban, however. The Biden administration is incentivizing a switch to EVs through tax breaks and stricter limits on tailpipe pollution. Environmental Protection Agency <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-ev-emissions-rule-labor-unions-auto-industry-2024-3">officials said in March that its vehicle emissions standards</a> could be met if 56% of new car sales were electric by 2032, a huge jump from 7% today, and hybrids accounted for about 13% sales. Gas cars would also have to be more efficient.Meanwhile, Trump and Rogers' claims of massive job losses due to the EV transition have been debunked by outlets including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/oct/18/mike-rogers/michigan-senate-candidate-mike-rogers-uses-faulty/">PolitiFact</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/22/trumps-crazy-false-ad-claiming-massive-layoffs-among-auto-workers/">The Washington Post</a>.The conservative think tank <a target="_blank" href="https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/ban-on-gas-powered-cars-would-eliminate-nearly-200000-auto-manufacturing-jobs">America First Policy Institute</a> estimated that a complete ban on gas-powered vehicles could cost nearly 200,000 US auto jobs — and 37,000 in Michigan — because EVs require less labor. But that analysis didn't account for jobs created by new EV and battery manufacturing plants popping up across the country.More than 30 new projects have been announced in Michigan since 2022, the business group <a target="_blank" href="https://e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/E2-BW-Clean-Economy-Works-_2024-Economic-Impact-Report-FINAL_10152024.pdf">E2</a>, which advocates clean energy policy, found. These projects could support 32,500 construction jobs and 8,400 jobs at the plants.The United Auto Workers has endorsed Harris. The union's president, Shawn Fain, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-chief-slams-trump-over-threat-revoke-ev-investments-2024-10-10/">earlier this month blasted</a> Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, over their pledges to end federal EV investments. Fain said the change would cost hundreds of jobs in Michigan and thousands more across states where EV and battery manufacturing plants are taking off. That includes major battleground states like North Carolina and Georgia. But rank-and-file UAW members during a strike last year <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/not-a-fan-uaw-workers-give-thumbs-down-to-bidens-ev-plan/">told POLITICO's E&amp;E News</a> that they were turned off by the EV transition, citing concerns about their jobs, the costs of EVs, and finding charging.China's dominance of the EV supply chain is another political lightning rod. A spokesperson for the Republican National Committee said the Inflation Reduction Act had been a boon for China. They pointed to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-biggest-winners-in-americas-climate-law-foreign-companies-c672e09d"> Chinese-owned firms</a>, including<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azcommerce.com/news-events/news/2023/1/ja-solar-announces-first-us-solar-module-manufacturing-facility-in-phoenix/"> JA Solar</a>,<a target="_blank" href="https://solarbuildermag.com/news/longi-solar-panel-manufacturing-coming-to-ohio-via-invenergy-joint-venture/"> LONGi</a>, and<a target="_blank" href="https://wirepoints.org/emerging-scandal-why-are-we-giving-8-billion-to-chinese-company-with-ccp-ties-to-build-a-2-billion-il-battery-factory-wirepoints/"> Gotion</a>, that are building projects in the US and have collected <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-biggest-winners-in-americas-climate-law-foreign-companies-c672e09d">billions in tax breaks</a> from the Inflation Reduction Act. China also continues to supply the vast majority of EV batteries and the minerals inside them, the spokesperson said.Democrats are hitting back on Republicans' EV attacks, arguing that the US has to build its own domestic EV manufacturing base to compete with China. Otherwise, the US will cede its market share overseas."Everyone knows China is eating our lunch on these kinds of vehicles," Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who's running against Rogers for Senate, said during their debate this week. "Just go to Europe, they have 30% market share. Go to South America, 30% market share. America knows we haven't gotten it right when it comes to seeing the next generation of vehicles."

Republican EV attacks are flooding Michigan, putting Democrats on the defensive in a critical battleground

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Missoula has faced rising homelessness as housing costs surge and shelter capacity is strained.</li><li>A new ordinance regulating sleeping outdoors is pushing more people to seek shelter services.</li></ul>Housing costs and the homeless population have soared in the Western Montana city of Missoula this year.For the first time ever this year, the city's largest emergency shelter was kept open year-round rather than just during the frigid winter months. Jill Bonny, executive director of the nonprofit Poverello Center, which runs the city's only two emergency shelters for adults without kids, said they're already operating near capacity."I honestly thought maybe we'd have 50 or 60 people at night, but our average was 120 individuals through the summer," Bonny told Business Insider. She added that her shelters simply can't accommodate the number of people still sleeping outside in the city of about 79,000.Homelessness — and shelter occupancy — has spiked in Missoula over the last several years. Between 2021 and 2023, the city's two main shelters saw a 53% increase in the number of nights of shelter provided to Missoulans experiencing homelessness. It's also a statewide issue: Montana saw a 551% increase in homelessness between 2007 and 2023 — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf">the largest increase in the nation</a>.And it's directly related to the surge in housing costs in Missoula and across the state. Particularly since the pandemic popularized remote work, a flood of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.minneapolisfed.org/-/media/assets/events/2024/2024-regional-economic-conditions-conference/watson_mt.pdf">affluent transplants</a> has overwhelmed the housing market, pushing rents and home prices way up. Missoula's struggles with rising housing costs and homelessness reflect issues plaguing much of the West and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/henrys-leaving-west-coast-sunbelt-california-texas-florida-real-estate-2024-2">Sun Belt</a>, where transplants have moved in droves in recent years. But its efforts to boost affordability and address homelessness could chart a path forward for localities facing the same issues.Advocates for those experiencing homelessness say there's much more work to be done. The city recently cracked down on unsheltered homelessness in the wake of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-homeless-camp-removal-without-adequate-shelter-beds-2024-6">a Supreme Court ruling</a> allowing people to be fined or arrested for sleeping in public places even if there's no available shelter bed. Local lawmakers say the city needs more state and federal funds to aid those experiencing homelessness.<div type="image" title="An emergency shelter called the Poverello Center in Missoula, Montana." height="850" width="1276" msid="114989518" hostid="261" sizebytes="105118"></div><h2 id="9f86bcab-3985-4415-9238-bd2a8160ace0">A spike in homelessness</h2>Recently, the city has begun cracking down on unsheltered homelessness, citing a surge in community complaints about public camping. In June, the city council <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://missoulacurrent.com/city-establishes-new-policy-on-crisis-camping-future-options/">passed an ordinance</a> banning camping between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on city land and the council is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://montanafreepress.org/2024/10/24/missoula-city-council-considers-changes-to-rules-restricting-camping-on-city-property/">debating expanding</a> it to ban overnight camping in city parks.Since the anti-camping ordinance went into effect in July, the city's shelters have seen an uptick in the number of people seeking a bed, a hot meal, or even just a place to go during the day, Bonny said.Bonny wants the city to invest in more shelter beds, transitional housing, and an authorized "crisis camping" area where people who don't want to move into a shelter can live in tents."If we're going to tell people where they can't be, we need to tell them where they can," she said. She also says the city desperately needs to invest in more mental healthcare and addiction treatment services.Not far from downtown Missoula, one temporary solution is in effect. The nonprofit New Hope Ministries teamed up with the county to create <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://hopemontana.org/hope-outreach/">temporary housing in hard-sided shelters</a> where people experiencing homelessness can find some stability before moving into permanent housing.<div type="image" title="Small structures serve as transitional housing at Missoula's Temporary Safe Outdoor Space." height="936" width="1268" msid="114989515" hostid="261" sizebytes="122238"></div>City councilmember Bob Campbell, who co-sponsored the anti-camping ordinance, said the city doesn't have the resources to provide a shelter bed for every person experiencing homelessness."There's only so much that we can do, at least from a city standpoint, from a municipal budget standpoint, to address the issue," he said.Campbell said he plans to join a city delegation that will visit the state legislature next year to ask for more state funding for homelessness and housing.<h2 id="33ce03be-d9bd-4485-8e6d-c5c58bc28a4e">Building more housing is key to solving homelessness</h2>Affordability is at the root of homelessness in Missoula and across the US.Missoula's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.missoularealestate.com/sales-data/">median home price has ballooned</a> from $310,000 in 2019 to $545,000 today. It's a statewide problem: Montana's housing market was named the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2024-09-19/montanas-housing-market-named-least-affordable-in-the-country">least affordable in the country</a> this fall. It's a statewide problem: Montana's housing market was named the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2024-09-19/montanas-housing-market-named-least-affordable-in-the-country">least affordable in the country</a> this fall.Montana has taken big steps in addressing housing affordability issues. The state legislature recently championed a slew of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-supporting-republican-montana-governor-yimby-housing-policies-lowering-rent-2024-3">bipartisan pro-housing policies</a> dubbed the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-28/montana-s-yimby-revolt-aims-to-head-off-a-housing-crisis">Montana miracle</a>" by housing advocates that are intended to make building denser housing easier.Missoula is doing more than many other Western cities to invest in housing. The city is preparing to approve <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://montanafreepress.org/2024/10/17/missoula-releases-draft-of-land-use-plan-to-guide-growth-over-the-next-20-years/">a new land-use plan</a> that will overhaul city zoning laws and development codes, legalizing denser housing construction citywide. Campbell is optimistic the updated policies will "do a much better job in allowing multiple different kinds of housing to come into Missoula that wasn't the case before."Bonny agrees that building more housing needs to be the first step. "If I could snap my fingers and something would be fixed — we need more housing, and we need more supportive housing," she said.The skyrocketing cost of housing has caused many other longtime Missoulians to question whether they can afford to stay put. David Stalling, a Marine Corps veteran and wildlife conservationist, has lived in Missoula for more than thirty years. He loves the progressive college town, where he can spend his mornings just north observing grizzly bears in their native habitat. But he's considering leaving.After losing his home to foreclosure in 2006, Stalling, 62, is struggling to pay the $1,200 rent for his studio apartment, which has risen from $900 when he moved in three years ago. Stalling, who's suffered from PTSD, depression, and substance abuse issues, wants to see unhoused people in Missoula get the same life-saving support he got from the government as a veteran."You shouldn't have some billionaire living in a giant mansion up in the Bitterroot contributing to the destruction of so much of what we care for while good people are sleeping out in the cold," Stalling said. "It's just not right."Are you dealing with housing insecurity or unaffordable rent? Share your story with this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:erelman@businessinsider.com">erelman@businessinsider.com</a>.

A booming Montana city's struggle with homelessness is a warning — and a model — for the West

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, who lives in Valencia, was in disbelief when he saw the damage from floods.</li><li>He said people in the path of the waters got little advance warning.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, 28, who lives in the Poblats Marítims district of Valencia, Spain.The region has been ravaged by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-flooding-51-dead-in-valencia-region-economic-hub-2024-10">flash floods</a>. Ezquerro spoke to BI on Thursday. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I've lived in Valencia for four years. Everything seemed normal on Monday — literally, nothing happened.But at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, things started getting ugly in most of the province. It was starting to rain and get very windy.Around 7:30 p.m., we started getting texts from local authorities alerting us of heavy rains and urging us to stay home.I said to myself: "Holy cow! But it's not raining here." I'm north of the river Turia in Valencia, so I wasn't affected and it hardly rained.I was shocked and alarmed by the images I started seeing on social media of people south of the river. People <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/ElPorteroRumano/status/1851631998722269659">stuck in </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/MeteOrihuela/status/1851375778216251428">trees</a>, people being pulled from a torrent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elespanolcom/video/7431854392258628897">by rope</a>, people <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/Ji_Predicciones/status/1851566884841259359">screaming.</a>I didn't have a car or any vehicle when the storm hit, so I couldn't do anything but stay put. I wasn't scared as I don't have a business to worry about and live on the fifth floor of my building.But I was and still am worried about those affected and the innocent lives being lost. By the time the alerts came, the storm had already hit.<h2 id="ca3c0d9a-c56b-47b5-a2d6-569f84ce2140">Back to the Middle Ages</h2>The next day, a friend and I biked to see the damage in southern Valencia, the area most affected by the storm.The metropolitan transport system had collapsed, the subways were flooded, and the buses could not access some areas.Before even reaching the area, we saw trucks and cars crowded on the road south of the river alike fallen dominoes.<div type="image" title="Cars left thrown on top of each other after a storm struck Valencia, Spain, in a picture taken on October 30, 2024." height="1200" width="1600" msid="114856601" hostid="261" sizebytes="43580"></div>The streets were full of dirt, covered with mud and water. People to the south of the river had no power or signal. It was like going back to the Middle Ages.We also helped a group of young people clear a sidewalk. We were up to our eyebrows in mud.The police were there, but there were hardly any other emergency services in the area, as they were rescuing people who were at risk.Friends have lost their cars. Some have garages full of water and mud that they are cleaning. I don't know anyone close to me who died.We returned home in a state of shock, taking it all in.<div type="image" title="Jesús Lucero Ezquerro and a group of friends on a street in Valencia on October 31, 2024." height="2448" width="3264" msid="114856606" hostid="261" sizebytes="414184"></div><h2 id="1fe11538-3d27-4b56-8220-055f4526ea14">Left behind</h2>I am frustrated and angry.I have a background in marine environmental emergencies and forest fire management, and I now work for a company on a firebreak management and forest fire prevention project.So, I'm not a firefighter or a member of the military, but I've worked on environmental emergencies from an intelligence-gathering point of view.I know how to evacuate people, how to manage populations, and how to manage adverse situations. But that did not happen in Valencia.<h2 id="24b81fb8-4f22-4359-a97e-6f0760015239">Worse than Hurricane Milton</h2>I remember watching the news of Hurricane Milton hitting Florida last month and how Floridians were preparing for it.Residents boarded up their windows with large wooden panels; store owners were getting ready for it, and people evacuated.The Tampa mayor even urged people to leave and said that anyone who stayed would die.After Hurricane Milton, there <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3zdg2wlvqo#:~:text=One%20of%20at%20least%20a,died%20across%20the%20US%20state.">were at least 16 deaths.</a> Meanwhile, here in Valencia, it's already about 10 times as many.The Spanish Meteorological Agency had issued an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.antena3.com/noticias/el-tiempo/actualidad/dana-valencia-que-pasaron-mas-10-horas-alerta-aemet-aviso-moviles-alert_20241031672370a3d058410001ca758c.html">alert days before</a> the storm. But on Tuesday, nothing happened. There was absolute calm in the morning. People were going to work and to university. When the local alerts came, the storm was already happening.<h2 id="27ab23b6-b666-4dce-ada9-fd22df28f8fa">A wake-up call</h2>Undoubtedly, human errors were made. I've never seen anything like it.In a country like Spain, with the means, agencies, and intelligence we have, it is horrible that this happened.At a certain point, authorities were saying 50 dead, then 60, then 70, then 90. To me, that doesn't sound like much. I believe that when the waters recede and the mud clears, more dead bodies will be found.

I live in Valencia, Spain, where flooding has taken over 100 lives. I can hardly believe what's happened here.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Delta Air Lines opened flight attendant applications for the first time in over a year.</li><li>But applicants experienced difficulties with the website which crashed for some users.</li></ul>The chance to become a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-vs-delta-airlines-domestic-basic-economy-review-2024-6">Delta Air Lines</a> flight attendant proved so popular that the airline's application site appeared to crash.Delta opened <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-quit-flight-attendant-job-after-5-years-unexpected-downsides-2023-2">flight attendant</a> applications on Wednesday for the first time in over a year. As one of the "Big Three" US airlines, it proved highly popular."Due to extremely high demand for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-cabin-crew-dispute-policy-change-palestine-flag-pin-row-2024-7">Delta flight attendant</a> positions, some applicants reported difficulties [with] the application page on September 4," an airline spokesperson told Business Insider."We have since made adjustments to allow for quicker access," they added. "We thank applicants for their interest and their patience."The airline's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://news.delta.com/become-delta-flight-attendant-apply-now-and-learn-more-information-sessions-across-country-0">announcement</a> was also updated with an editor's note warning that the application experience "may be slow" due to a " large influx of candidate interest."On the r/cabincrewcareers subreddit, one user posted a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/cabincrewcareers/comments/1f8t0eq/may_the_odds_be_ever_in_your_favor/">screenshot</a> of the site displaying an error message that said it was "temporarily unavailable." Another user said it took them five hours to complete their application "due to the site giving me so much trouble."Last year, flight attendant applications reached new highs as airlines rebounded from the pandemic.Delta told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/delta-air-lines-just-made-a-big-announcement-its-flight-attendants-will-be-very-happy.html">Inc.</a> it had received 65,000 applications for a record 5,000 jobs in 2023. Eve Rogers, Delta's general manager of in-flight services recruitment, added that there would be fewer places this year.Throughout September, Delta representatives are hosting information sessions for aspiring flight attendants in Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington state.The hiring process involves five stages. After submitting an application, there's a virtual job tryout, a video interview, and an in-person event day that includes another interview. Successful applicants would then receive a conditional job offer and undergo seven weeks of training.Travel news site <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/09/04/the-delta-air-lines-careers-website-keeps-on-crashing-because-so-many-people-want-to-become-a-flight-attendant/">Paddle Your Own Kanoo</a> suggested that the influx of Delta hopefuls could be related to United Airlines only opening its applications for less than 24 hours last month.Delta's IT setback follows July's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-ceo-it-outage-cost-500-million-crowdstrike-lawsuit-2024-8">CrowdStrike outage</a>, when Delta was the worst-affected airline, with CEO Ed Bastian estimating it cost the carrier $500 million.

You Searched For "Flood warning" and got 6 results

Flash floods are a worsening scourge worldwide — here's why

Mikhaila Friel,Hannah Abraham

Spain hit by flash floods that killed 51 people and roiled an economic hub

Thibault Spirlet

Republican EV attacks are flooding Michigan, putting Democrats on the defensive in a critical battleground

Catherine Boudreau

A booming Montana city's struggle with homelessness is a warning — and a model — for the West

Eliza Relman

I live in Valencia, Spain, where flooding has taken over 100 lives. I can hardly believe what's happened here.

Thibault Spirlet

Wannabe flight attendants overloaded Delta's recruitment website by flooding to apply for jobs

Pete Syme

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides