Tenerife Overhauls Emergency Protocols to Boost Island-Wide Resilience

Tenerife is updating its Municipal Emergency Plans (PEMU) to move away from simply reacting to disasters and toward a more organized, resilient approach. The goal is to better protect both the island’s residents and its economy.

To achieve this, the island is standardizing emergency protocols across all municipalities. By using shared templates and regular audits, officials want to ensure that evacuation routes, shelters, and meeting points work the same way everywhere. A key part of this plan is better support for vulnerable residents; the island is creating registries for people with reduced mobility or dependency, allowing social services to provide them with priority care during a crisis.

The new strategy also focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, such as power, water, and communication networks, as well as hospitals. By mapping these essential services, the government aims to keep them running even during emergencies. The plan also considers the protection of historical sites and local businesses, recognizing that public safety is vital to maintaining the island’s way of life.

Communication is another priority. The island will use a multi-channel system, including SMS alerts, mobile apps, and multilingual campaigns to keep everyone informed. Training is also central to the plan, with two major drills scheduled for 2025: one for forest fires in La Guancha and another for volcanic risks in Guía de Isora and Santiago del Teide. These exercises will test how well different agencies work together and help refine response strategies.

Finally, the updated evacuation protocols now include provisions for pets and livestock, with designated areas for animals in emergency shelters. Through these changes, the Cabildo hopes to build a culture of prevention that keeps Tenerife stable and safe, no matter what challenges arise.