NOVEMBER 2019 FLOOD

Venetians are used to coexist with flooding water, actually every single day we have 2 high tide peaks (and 2 low moments), and very often in the winter months the water might be higher than a certain level and inundate few areas. We are so used to this recurring phenomenon that beside umbrellas we keep Wellington boots ready to be used, and all shops have barricades on their doorsteps. November 12th we had anyway the highest tide since 1966, was the flood a disaster? Did the flood paralyzed the city? Was the flood putting the health of the people in danger? 

• was the flood a disaster? only for refrigerator, whashing machines, dish washers, and any equipment and furnitures which were located at the ground level lower than the tide line, involving mostly stores, bars, restaurants, hotel lobbies (the loss were partly reimbursed by the italian government), luckily few residential apartments were damaged as most of the apartments are located at the above floors.
• did the flood paralyzed the city? during the tide peaks people could walk only with very high boots, but except those 2-3 hours the city was totally empty of water and people could go everywhere. Nobody was evacuated!
• was the flood putting the health of the people in danger? during a short circuit a man died from electrocution, a sad accident, but none else suffered any health disease, unless those exhibitionists that walked with naked legs into the freezing water.

WHAT ABOUT FLOOD IN VENICE IN THE FUTURE, WHAT TO EXPECT?

For sure having a series of very high tide is having a long lasting effect concerning the preservation of fragile artworks, such as the mosaics and the marbles of the St Mark’s Basilica, because of the persistence of water salinity. But this is not much worse as the erosion caused by the high speed propeller motor boats in the internal canals, as well as the monster cruise ships’s pollution of water, air, and banks.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR A SMART VISIT DURING FLOODING SEASONS?

Flood is seasonal and unpredictable, simply like the rain, as the rain doesn’t stop the life even the flood shouldn’t be a problem especially if you follow some suggestions:

• floods are usually concentrated in winter time and mostly in November, but this is not a rule and by my opinion winter is the best time to visit Venice because it’s not crowded at all, and even prices are more affordable
• get info at the Tide Forecast Center, and even better install this app on your mobile phone: Hi!Tide android version / apple version you’ll get the realtime tide data
• get prepared that during the eventually high tide peaks you can’t visit tourist venues located in the lowest part of the city (such as St Mark’s square), so postpone it by few hours
• try to hire an accommodation water free, it means avoid to rent a ground floor apartment/room. In case you can even save money and stay in Mestre, the Venice part on the mainland (example Casa Palmira)

Davide Calenda