Estrella Carrion, 58, has always lived in Chiva. And, before her, her parents, her grandparents, her great-grandparents occupied the pretty house near the church. For over two hundred years, she thinks. With a view of the “rooster ravine”this almost invisible stream which transformed into a gigantic wave when the torrential rains fell on the city. More than 40 centimeters of water in a few hours. The view is still there, half of the house was swept away by the flood. Three pieces torn off. The family was able to take refuge upstairs. Not the dog, carried away by the fury of the water.
The architects from the town hall came a little earlier: the house is no longer habitable. “We will no longer live here”laments the mother, hosted by friends in the village. The inhabitants cling to this impressive solidarity to draw something positive from this natural and human disaster, without comparison with the previous flood, in 1982. The neighbors, the neighbors of the neighbors, those from above, those from below low, offered their arms to clear the mud. Estrella's children went to help other victims. The farmers of the commune came with their tractors to bring basins of water and left, in an incessant stream, with the remains of the destroyed houses – the children's toys, clothes, books, furniture.
Many young people tirelessly push water away from houses using shovels and brooms. Construction companies brought their equipment. The Guardia Civil and the emergency services are not absent, but the village has taken charge on its own, everyone contributing what they can, rather than waiting for help which did not seem to arrive. “There’s nothing we can do but help each other.”summarizes Estrella Carrion.
