Santa Cruz de Tenerife Activates Emergency Shelters Amid Storm Therese

Severe weather has once again highlighted the challenges local governments face in protecting vulnerable residents. During the recent Storm Therese, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council activated an emergency protocol, providing shelter for twenty homeless individuals on the first day alone.

The Social Policy department coordinated the effort, quickly filling all 20 emergency spaces at the Municipal Reception Center (CMA). Due to high demand, authorities had to refer three additional people to the Hogar Sagrada Familia, a facility managed by the Island Council. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez noted that while the city offers over 300 permanent spots for those in need, it remains difficult to convince some homeless individuals to accept institutional help.

This emergency response is part of the Municipal Emergency Plan (PEMU), which allows social services to act quickly during severe weather. The plan ensures that temporary shelters stay open as long as an alert is in effect. The Mobile Outreach Unit (UMA) has played a vital role in this process, actively locating people living on the streets and transporting them to safety.

These interventions show how complex it is to address social exclusion in cities, especially when extreme weather puts the most vulnerable at risk. The council plans to keep these emergency resources operational for as long as the PEMU remains active, aiming to protect those most exposed to the elements.