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Original poster

Valencia red weather warning: I have evacuated. Did I overreact?

53 replies

Laralou991 · 28/09/2025 21:16

This afternoon my phone buzzed very loudly with a red weather warning alert from the government (attached). All schools and public services are closed for the next 2 days. My husband is away with work and I have a 2 and 4 year old. We moved here a month ago and do not have a lot of supplies in, and as it’s Sunday just the small local shop is open. We also don’t know anybody locally so have no immediate support system.

Have I overreacted to have left Valencia and travelled to a relatives in another part of Spain? I’d rather be at home, but went into a panic and was madly packing our suitcases to get out the area. It felt a bit like an Apolcolypse. During the last floods apparently the shops ran out of water and I was worried we could end up trapped with road closures etc.

Have I massively overreacted here?

Valencia red weather warning: I have evacuated. Did I overreact?
OP posts:
HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 28/09/2025 21:23

It depends where I lived. If I was in a city and not low lying I would stay.

However it's not unreasonable to travel to a relative just to be cautious and know you don't have to worry about potential flooding. You are in a new place with 2 little children so don't bash yourself.

Eyesopenwideawake · 28/09/2025 21:25

You won't know until after it's over but there was no harm done, given that you had somewhere else to go.

Hillrunning · 28/09/2025 21:28

You've done it now.
The very first bit of advice is avoid travel though.

NotEnoughRoom · 28/09/2025 21:31

For all the reasons you stated in your OP, as long as your travelled safely before the weather was due to start (eg it was an early warning rather than something that had already started) , then I would have made the same decision.

Valenciawarningmessage · 28/09/2025 21:31

Hi I'm in the area, it panicked me, too. Not sure about yours, but my phone buzzed very aggressivly, too. It felt very dramatic.

The Spaniards seem to be very practical
/ not very worried about it though. I think it depends if you're in a zone impacted by the terrible flood last year, though. But I do think they're being overly cautious because of how quickly things turned.

Then again, we were very close to the Zamora fires for weeks in the summer, and we didn't leave (/weren't evacuated) until smoke was visible and it was raining ash - against my better judgement!

bert3400 · 28/09/2025 21:33

I'm just up the road just south of Valencia, we have a yellow warning. Personally I think you've done the right thing. The DANA in October last year was catastrophic... insolated to a relatively small area but still incredibly destructive. You are safe and will have access to supplies - you made the call that you thought was right for you. Fingers crossed everyone will be safe and this time the warnings are out in time ❤️

Zhu · 28/09/2025 21:33

I think given that you’re on your own with two small kids, any disruption is going to be difficult for you, so why not travel to someone who can share the load? Hopefully all back to normal for you in a few days.

WonderingWanda · 28/09/2025 21:34

Given your circumstances and having seen footage of the last floods I would say you've made a sensible choice. Hopefully it won't be that bad and you will be back home soon, then you can sort out some emergency supplies and work out plans for the next time.

Original poster
Laralou991 · 28/09/2025 21:35

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 28/09/2025 21:23

It depends where I lived. If I was in a city and not low lying I would stay.

However it's not unreasonable to travel to a relative just to be cautious and know you don't have to worry about potential flooding. You are in a new place with 2 little children so don't bash yourself.

We’re 15 minute drive outside the centre. The area is on a hill but our house is in a dip.

Just feel a bit awkward now I’m here like have I made a mountain out of a mole hill!

OP posts:
TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 28/09/2025 21:36

You did the thing most likely to make you and your little ones feel and be safe and secure. It doesn't matter if, in retrospect, it turns out to have been over the top.
Have a lovely safe time and return home when it's all over.

Sweetbeansandmochi · 28/09/2025 21:38

In the nicest possible way op - give yourself a break. On your own in a new country with two small children - you did a sensible thing.

Chick981 · 28/09/2025 21:42

Not overreacting at all given how young your kids are! Completely different to staying out as an adult, and you have somewhere safe to go, not as if you’ve forked out a fortune for a hotel somewhere. Completely sensible decision.

Original poster
Laralou991 · 28/09/2025 21:48

Valenciawarningmessage · 28/09/2025 21:31

Hi I'm in the area, it panicked me, too. Not sure about yours, but my phone buzzed very aggressivly, too. It felt very dramatic.

The Spaniards seem to be very practical
/ not very worried about it though. I think it depends if you're in a zone impacted by the terrible flood last year, though. But I do think they're being overly cautious because of how quickly things turned.

Then again, we were very close to the Zamora fires for weeks in the summer, and we didn't leave (/weren't evacuated) until smoke was visible and it was raining ash - against my better judgement!

Edited

The buzz was so dramatic! Think that was part of the stress. About 10 vibrations and an alarm, I didn’t know they could overwrite silent mode.

The Spaniards seem so chilled, I assumed more people would have been going for petrol or getting supplies. I assume you have stayed put?

OP posts:
TicTac80 · 28/09/2025 21:49

It sounds like you made a very sensible decision based on location of your house, the fact that you're new to the area and have young kids. Far better to be safe than being in a risky/dangerous situation. I don't think you've made a mountain out of a molehill.

Ladybugheart · 28/09/2025 21:49

Going to a relatives sounds sensible. Stay safe!

bert3400 · 28/09/2025 21:53

I would also add when it rains here especially the level predicted, flooding can occur very quickly. The water overloads the drainage systems at an alarming rate.

PrimeTimeNow · 28/09/2025 21:56

I think you’ve done the right thing OP.
Now that you’re safely elsewhere it might turn out to be a nothing but why would you ignore a red warning if there was somewhere else you could go. I’d hand find the same. Better safe than sorry.

SoftPillow · 28/09/2025 21:57

Given the previous flooding in the area, new to the area, house in a dip, plus solo with two small children and limited supplies, I’d have done exactly the same.

In these scenarios you wouldn’t regret being cautious, only the other way round.

Is someone making you feel that you’ve overreacted or are you just thinking this? I think you’ve been very sensible.

Timeforabitofpeace · 28/09/2025 23:06

Lots of people do seem chilled in these sorts of situations, but then again, some people suffer awful consequences for that. You made a good decision.

KnitKnitKnitting · 28/09/2025 23:09

Sounds to me like you’ve made a very sensible decision. Doesn’t matter whether it turns out to not have been necessary, we have to act with the information we have, not hindsight.

Flippertyfloppertyflip · 28/09/2025 23:09

I was in Oliva two years ago and received that message. I was in a campervan on a site. When I opened the door there was literally a river running past. I was able to move to higher ground just in time. When in rains in Spain it can be horrendous. You’ve done the right thing OP.

MagicalMystical · 28/09/2025 23:12

I think you’ve done the right thing

moresoup · 28/09/2025 23:13

Sounds totally reasonable in your situation.
I would also try and do a bit more fact finding about how vulnerable the house actually is. I have always looked at things like topography when buying /renting houses

HellonHeels · 28/09/2025 23:25

You've been very sensible IMO. Recent flooding in that area was horrendous. Alone in a new area with two little children, you're vulnerable. Don't second guess yourself. Hope you're back home soon.

whatwouldlilacerullodo · 28/09/2025 23:29

You were alone with 2 very small children! Why not go somewhere you can have peace of mind? You don't get a medal for being tough and staying home. You're in a place where you're not panicking and scared, isn't it a good reason?
(Let me guess, was it your husband who said you over reacted?)

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