Pilar Bernabé, the government delegate in Valencia, testified that she offered the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) to the Valencian regional government eight hours before the mass mobile alert about the devastating October 2024 floods. This was during a meeting of the Cecopi emergency response team.
She contacted the then-Justice and Interior councilor, Salomé Pradas, at 12:23 pm, but the mass alert was sent at 8:11 pm. During the Cecopi meeting, she was informed of people drowning in Paiporta and of challenges the UME faced in Utiel.
Bernabé stated that Pradas initially agreed to the UME offer but later asked for it formally at 2:53 pm, which according to Bernabé caused significant distress. Bernabé made several calls to Pradas and to the mayors of Utiel and Requena. The call log from Bernabé's mobile phone confirms these actions. She also canceled a trip to Cordoba due to the emergency.
Bernabé believes the government's text message should have advised residents to evacuate lower floors, a detail that the judge has confirmed could have saved lives.
The investigation into the flood centers on the actions of the regional government. Bernabé's testimony is being seen as a crucial part of determining the responsibility for the delayed response and the inadequacy of the alert.