Storm Daniel, one year on: “We live in fear of the rain”

September 2023 was a nightmare for Thessaly due to Storm Daniel. The storm claimed at least 17 lives, caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and farmland, and killed hundreds of thousands of animals.

Among the affected areas were villages and settlements in Karditsa. Places like Palamas, Marathea, Koskinas, Metamorfosi, and Vlochos were “buried” underwater for many days.

One year later, on September 5, Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Thessaly, announcing a €3+ billion reconstruction plan (€1.5 billion for support and €1.5 billion for infrastructure), which also includes the Karditsa region.

Until the measures are implemented, the reality for the residents remains unchanged: they are trying to cope with the aftermath of the destruction on all levels.

We spoke with residents from severely affected areas in Karditsa to understand how their daily lives have evolved since September. Many shared that they have yet to receive the €6,000 compensation and are unable to return to their homes, which were destroyed. Meanwhile, all live in constant fear of the rain.

Marathea, Karditsa: “We live in constant fear of the rain”

“When it rains, we’re scared. Everyone here fears the rain. We live with the constant worry that we might flood again, just like last year. We don’t know how heavy the rain will be, whether the canals and rivers have been properly cleared, or if the necessary works have been done,” says Dimitra Pappa, 68, a retired teacher and resident of Marathea, Karditsa, in an interview with fyi.news.

Half of her house collapsed during Storm Daniel, and the municipality is set to demolish the other half.

“I can’t live in Marathea. I don’t have a home. I’m staying with people in Karditsa and sometimes with relatives in Marathea while I wait to see what happens with my house. But I want to return,” she explains.

The main issue in Marathea right now, according to Dimitra Pappa, is that authorities have yet to clear away the items residents discarded when cleaning out their homes.

“This is a health hazard. Everything that was inside our homes has been thrown outside. Special crews from the municipality came with trucks and transported the debris to the village entrance. On that side of the village, a water pump supplies Marathea and Korda. I hope it’s constructed to prevent it from pulling in surface water,” she explains.

She adds that daily life in Marathea has changed significantly, especially for children who have yet to return to the local school, as the building is still under construction. However, there is hope that they will be able to return soon.

Palamas, Karditsa: “The necessary works still haven’t been completed.”

“The collapsed houses remain as they were last year. No one has cleared them. Even those marked for demolition haven’t been taken down. Next to the main church, there’s a two-story house with plaster falling off. The ceiling of the adjacent building has collapsed, and they’ve just put up tape around it to keep people from passing by or parking their vehicles,” says Alexandra Bouta, 30, who is originally from Palamas but lives and works in Slovakia. In September 2023, she was in Palamas on vacation when she witnessed the devastating floods.

A year later, having returned to Palamas again for vacation, Alexandra describes daily life in the area: “When it rained a few days ago, it brought back memories of last year’s storm. Five different people reached out to me asking, ‘Do you think it will happen again? Should we be worried?’ The psychological impact has definitely stayed with everyone.”

She also highlights that crucial projects are still unfinished: “I know the canals were cleared of debris, but no other significant work has been done in Palamas. One important task would be to fix the broken gates that control water flow.”

She also adds that renovations and repairs to public buildings, such as the Palamas Health Center, were funded mainly by private donations.

Koskinas, Karditsa: “Many feel that rebuilding their homes would be pointless.”

“Many residents still haven’t returned to the village. We haven’t gone back to our home either. Everyone faces difficulties, even with farming, due to the large amount of debris. Very few people are still living in the village,” says Marianthi Gioti, 24, a resident of Koskinas, Karditsa.

She explains that her house is uninhabitable and needs repairs. Currently, she lives in Karditsa, where she studies hairdressing and is completing her internship. Her parents are staying with relatives in villages that weren’t as badly affected by the flooding.

“We haven’t received the €6,000 from the government; all the help we’ve had has come from individuals and volunteers. We don’t understand why this is happening. As far as I know, most people haven’t received it. Besides, that amount wouldn’t be enough to rebuild our home,” she stresses.

She adds that the psychological and financial impact of last year’s disaster has been significant. “Many people haven’t rebuilt their homes because they fear it could happen again. They see it as pointless,” she explains.

She and others her age find it hard to imagine a future in Koskinas or even Karditsa.

“We don’t feel secure about what might happen if it rains heavily again. From what we can tell, no serious work has been done. Everyone I know, including myself, envisions their future elsewhere. Not even in Karditsa, because it has also suffered greatly. The villages supported the town of Karditsa, too. Honestly, we all imagine our future somewhere else.”