“Being mayor today and also being mayor on 19 June 1996 produces a whirlwind of sensations and reflections in me.” Now almost thirty years after the anniversary of the flood of 19 June 1996, the mayor of Seravezza, Lorenzo Alessandrini, remembers “that unfortunate day of fear and paroxysm” which caused 14 victims in Versilia: 12 in Cardoso, overwhelmed by the the water and mud that destroyed the entire town and the valley below, obliterating almost all the roads and interrupting the connection lines; another victim was in Montiscendi and yet another in Fornovolasco. Alessandrini was in the front row managing the emergency in the Seravezzo area, implementing happy intuitions that allowed him to save numerous lives of those who were headed towards the Stazzemese area. An experience that paved the way for the assignment in Rome as an official of the Civil Protection Department, where he was called following the competent management of that disaster. “The memory of pain – he comments – must be accompanied by the memory of events, which provides a series of knowledge coming from the territory, of technical acquisitions and new attitudes and skills to know, respect and care for the territory more. The experience lived in those hours has left us many basic lessons for the prevention of new disasters and for the safety of our slopes and the hydrographic system: the role of the abandoned chestnut grove, the water management works on the main and secondary river banks, coexistence with a very peculiar climate. We must all take advantage of this. We all know that the public administration alone cannot comprehensively cope with this widespread and costly risk mitigation commitment. All these elements must remind us that in Versilia it is never allowed to lower our guard. not even when the sun shines.”
The ceremony will begin this morning at 10am at the primary school in Pollino with the laying of a wreath in memory of Alessio Ricci, one of the two youngest victims of the flood. At 1.45pm, another wreath will be placed in Cardoso at the monument commemorating the victims of that town, and there will be the presence of the authorities and representatives of the four municipalities of historic Versilia. From 6.40pm at Cinquale, at the mouth of the Versilia river, the Relay of Memory will start in collaboration with Atletica Pietrasanta Versilia. At 7.30 pm the relay runners will arrive in Pietrasanta in La Rotta and at 7.55 pm in Marzocchino where a wreath will be laid in memory of Valeria Guidi. Finally the caravan will pass, with the torch in hand, in Piazza Carducci in Seravezza and then in Ruosina, finally in Pontestazzemese there will be the arrival of the Relay. From here the silent torchlight procession of the citizens will begin and arrive at 10pm in Cardoso where the Holy Mass will be celebrated. At the same time, the crest of Mount Forato will be illuminated with 14 torches by the Snowmen and the Querceta Alpine and Speleological Rescue Service. “The event of ’96 was an exceptional event – underlines the mayor of Stazzema Maurizio Verona – but it highlighted that our territory did not have an adequate hydraulic axis and at the same time that we had an overly uncultivated forest which represented a danger. On the first aspect a great job was done for which we must thank the Region, the mayors of the time and the citizens who immediately committed themselves to the reconstruction. One of all to thank is Franco Barberi, then undersecretary of Civil Protection. The second aspect still represents a problem for our territory”
Landslide.
