A day to say “thank you”. Thanks to all those who, in various capacities, with or without uniform, rushed in those terrible days of May a year ago, to rescue and help the citizens of the areas affected by the flood. A day to reiterate commitments for the legitimate aid still needed. But above all to remember the 17 victims, the only irreparable losses.
“A day to say thank you. Flood, one year later”: this is the title of the great event organized by the Emilia-Romagna Region together with the regional Agency for Territorial Security and Civil Protection, underway at the PalaCattani in Faenza with over 2000 guests: Civil Protection, institutions, state forces, world of volunteering . For all those present, a canvas bag with the book “Quel che conta”, created by the Communication and Information Agency of the Regional Council and the shots of the Cesena photographer Marco Onofri, as well as a souvenir pin from the Civil Protection.
The participants’ entrance was followed by introductory greetings from Castrese De Rosa, prefect of Ravenna, and Massimo Isola, mayor of Faenza; then Michele de Pascale, president of the Province of Ravenna, representing Upi Emilia-Romagna; Enzo Lattuca, mayor of Cesena, representing Anci Emilia-Romagna; finally, Matteo Lepore, metropolitan mayor of Bologna.
Isola and De Pascale
Moved by the intervention of mayor of Faenza Massimo Isola: “Twelve months ago this building hosted hundreds of silent and emotional people, people who had lost their homes and didn’t know if they had lost family and friends. I was present and I saw scenes that I will never be able to forget.”
As Michele de Pascale: “This land is made of spontaneous generosity and we have had proof of it. We are grateful to all the press for their great help in such difficult times.”
Lettuce: “Many forces united to get back up”
The president of the Province of Forlì-Cesena Enzo Lattuca underlined: “I saw the union of many teams, so much energy, so much strength to get up from the mud. A true sign of the strength of our people.”
Taking turns on stage were Sisto Russo (National Department of Civil Protection); Rita Nicolini, director of the regional Agency for Territorial Security and Civil Protection; Gian Marco Desogus, Ercc Liaison Officers of the European Commission; Sergio Zaniboni, president of the Regional Civil Protection Volunteer Coordination Committee, and Dario Pasini, president of the National Civil Protection Committee.
“Today, one year later, is the time for thanks but also for the commemoration of the victims and the renewal of commitments – they commented Bonaccini and Priolo-. An immense ‘thank you’ to all those who worked tirelessly alongside the injured communities during the emergency, and not only that: many continue to do so today to strengthen local security and carry out reconstruction interventions. For our part – continued the president and vice-president – we will never forget what happened: we have taken stock and, as we have already had the opportunity to say, we reiterate that we will not back down until the last refund. This, however, is intended to be a day to say above all, forcefully, thank you, because everyone’s presence and help were fundamental in getting up and starting again”.
