Ourém Municipal Council has asked the government to declare the municipality in a state of calamity following the damage caused by Storm Kristin, but has not yet received confirmation from the executive. As of Friday, the municipality had around 30,000 people without electricity, 40% of the population without a water supply and 30 people displaced.
I can't imagine Ourém not being declared a municipality in a state of calamity, says the mayor
Friday, 30 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
A state of calamity (situação de calamidade) is the highest level of civil emergency Portugal can declare under its Civil Protection framework, short of a constitutional state of emergency. It is typically declared by the government in response to severe natural disasters such as major wildfires, floods, or storms.
A calamity declaration activates the National Civil Protection Emergency Plan, mobilizes additional resources, and grants authorities expanded powers to restrict movement, requisition private property, and deploy military assets. It also unlocks emergency financial support for affected populations and municipalities.
Portugal uses a three-tier alert system: alerta (alert), contingência (contingency), and calamidade (calamity), each with escalating levels of coordination and authority. The state of calamity requires coordination between the national government, ANEPC, local authorities, and emergency services.
