The President of the Regional Government highlighted today the increase in financial resources for the prevention and safety of populations and property regarding risks associated with streams throughout the Region, which amount to about eight million Euros for this year.

 "From year to year, we have increased the allocation of financial resources for these purposes and, compared to 2012, we have quadrupled the corresponding budget allocations. For all these reasons, this year's Plan provides an overall allocation of eight million Euros for all these actions," said Vasco Cordeiro.

 The President of the Government spoke on Pico at the opening of the protection works against flood dangers in the village of Prainha, an investment of about 350 thousand Euros that is part of a vast rehabilitation programme of the Azores hydrographic network. So far, it has already represented a public investment of more than 5.3 million Euros.

"This is a necessary investment that should make us proud because the safety of people and goods is the main value," stressed Vasco Cordeiro during the third day of the Regional Government's visit to Pico Island.

According to him, there are other two ongoing contract works on this island that representing a total investment of more than 1.1 million Euros. These interventions include the construction of a culvert under Rua do Meio and the retention of flows in Ribeira do Dilúvio stream as well as the mitigation of flow risks in Ribeira Grande and Nova streams, both located in the village of São Caetano.

 In addition to the works, there is an investment in the maintenance and cleaning of the water lines, carried out regularly by the services of the Regional Directorate for the Environment or, occasionally, by service providers, mentioned the President of the Government.

 After recalling that the Region has a hydrographic network with an extension of about 7,000 kilometres, distributed across more than 700 river basins, the President of the Government stressed that the prevention of these risks also includes a very strong prevention component.

 "In this regard, it is important to note that we have recently approved the Flood Risk Management Plan (PGRIA), covering the most critical river basins in our Region," announced the President of the Government.

 According to Vasco Cordeiro, this fundamental planning instrument presents itself as a sectoral plan whose strategic goal is to reduce the potential consequences of floods to human life, the environment, cultural heritage, infrastructure and economic activities. It is implemented through the definition of adequate prevention, protection, preparedness and response measures to the specificities of each of the areas identified with significant potential risks, especially on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Flores.

 As part of the monitoring of water resources associated with risk prevention, the President of the Government highlighted the expansion of the Hydrometeorological Network of the Azores, which now includes 99 automatic stations on all islands.
 "The data generated by the Hydrometeorological Network of the Azores provides basic information that, after being properly processed and modelled by CIVISA, is used for the issuance and broadcast of alerts in case of danger of slope movements associated with heavy rainfall. This process also involves Civil Protection services," said the government official.

 The work opened today included an intervention, upstream of the regional road, to divert the new water line formed during the October 2012 storms to Ribeira da Areia stream as well as the reprofiling and widening of Ribeira da Areia stream and the reconstruction of culverts, downstream of the regional road, in order to reconcile the flow section of the stream with the new flows.