The municipal council announced that the CMPC convened on Tuesday in the main hall of the Town Hall for an update on the current situation. The meeting focused on analyzing the procedures outlined in the Municipal Civil Protection Plan to ensure an effective response to any potential occurrences.
Officials assessed the available operational and logistical resources, examining the outlined action plan and the various pre-established teams to support the population swiftly if necessary.
Catarina Manito, the Mayor of Madalena, emphasized that given the hurricane’s current distance, there remains a degree of uncertainty regarding its trajectory and the intensity with which it may impact the Azores archipelago.
In a proactive measure, the mayor advised residents to secure loose items on their properties and lands and to prune or remove trees at risk of falling.
Residents are also urged to clear their home’s drainage systems, reinforce the stability of structures and roofs, and prepare an emergency kit if needed.
On Tuesday, amid anticipated worsening weather conditions, the municipality was actively clearing drains, securing urban waste containers, and collecting stages and other loose items, particularly in coastal areas, to prevent them from being swept away and posing risks to people and property.
The municipality also expedited the collection of bulky waste in all parishes, urging the population not to leave waste outside containers to ensure everyone’s safety.
Mayor Catarina Manito stated that depositing waste, especially large items, on the streets could pose risks to people and property given the expected adverse weather conditions.
“I appeal to our citizens to take care of their safety and that of others. Do not leave these items on the street. Take precautions, adopt self-protection measures, and follow civil protection advice. We are on the ground to ensure your safety,” the mayor and Municipal Civil Protection chief stated.
The Azores are expected to be influenced by Cyclone Gabrielle, which was located approximately 2,640 kilometers southwest of the Western Group of the Azores on Tuesday, moving northeast according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Currently classified as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most severe), Gabrielle is forecasted to pass through the region as a Category 1 storm on Friday.
The islands of the Western and Central Groups of the Azores will be under a red alert for heavy rainfall, maritime agitation, and wind from Thursday night due to the approaching cyclone.
In Flores and Corvo (Western Group), the red alert for heavy rainfall is in effect from Thursday at 21:00 (22:00 in Lisbon) to 06:00 on Friday.
For maritime agitation, a red alert has been issued for these areas from 00:00 to 09:00 on Friday, anticipating southwest waves shifting to the north, with maximum waves potentially reaching 14 to 18 meters.
The red alert for wind on these two islands will be in effect from 00:00 to 06:00 on Friday, with winds coming from the east and shifting to the north.
In the Central Group islands—Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, and Graciosa—a red alert for wind (from the south, shifting to northwest) will be in place from 00:00 to 09:00 on Friday.
The IPMA has also issued a red alert for the same group regarding maritime agitation, valid from 03:00 to 12:00 on Friday, with southwest waves expected to shift northwest, potentially reaching maximum heights of 14 to 18 meters.
