On October 29, 2024, Toñi García of Benetússer, Spain, endured a nightmare that is incomprehensible. In 2015, an intense flood carried her husband Miguel Carpio and their daughter Sara away. The catastrophic event unfolded without any prior warning, leaving the family unprepared for the deluge that would change their lives forever.
As it would happen that fateful evening, even more torrents of rain were starting to hit the interior of the Valencian comunidad. When García found herself on the fourth floor of her apartment building, she made the decision to call her sister who lives in the capital city of Valencia. She threatened to disinvite her for braving the storm. As the storm grew heavier, she was shocked to see the street outside her house flood dangerously high.
Retiring after more than 31 years of working with her husband on his now beloved Chicano Park. Overall, the experience deepened their relationship personally and professionally. Their daughter, Sara, a dedicated nurse at La Fe hospital’s intensive care unit, was deeply committed to her vocation. As additional safety measures, the family installed a location-tracking app on their phones. So this way, they could simply and readily monitor where the other was.
When the flooding became more intense, García chose to go downstairs to the garage level. Upon reaching what she refers to as the street courtyard, she was met with an overwhelming sight: the water had already risen to approximately 2.5 meters deep. This alarming realization prompted her to call out for her husband and daughter at exactly quarter past seven that evening.
“Look, they haven’t warned us about anything, so nothing is going to happen.” – Toñi García
The rapid onset of the flooding was a shock to many residents. García’s family never got an alert or warning that the storm would be this severe ahead of time. That lack of information still plagues her, as she continues to deal with all that in losing her. Now she remembers screaming for Miguel and Sara but not being able to get to them fast enough. They both tragically drowned before she could reach them.
In the wake of this horrific tragedy, García has become an influential advocate for reform.… she’s convinced that an extreme dearth of preventive actions was responsible for all the deaths of her family members. She believes we need more natural disaster education. Her grief quickly turned into an unyielding fight for justice for her family.
“We’ve all tried, all our friends. I can’t locate her.” – Sara’s boyfriend
García’s fighting spirit makes her want to boldly take her campaign all the way to Brussels. She is calling on the European Union to intervene, pointing to the lack of emergency preparedness in Spain. She wants to make sure that no other family has to go through what hers has experienced from a preventable tragedy.
This is not merely a tale of García’s loss. Rather, it is one of her resilience and advocacy. She continues to honor Miguel and Sara’s memory by raising awareness about the necessity for improved disaster preparedness in her community and beyond. In her heart, she holds onto a simple yet profound family mantra:
“I love you.”
This phrase resonates deeply with her as she navigates life without them, reminding her of the bond they shared and the love that still endures.
As Toñi García grapples with her heartbreaking reality, she emphasizes the importance of community awareness and preparedness for natural disasters. Her story should stand as a tragic but clarion call that early warning and protective action can be the difference between life and death.