Latest news and stories about storm recovery in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Intermunicipal Community of Beira Baixa has approved 57.34 million euros to support recovery efforts following Storm Kristin. The region registered over 2,200 applications for aid, totaling 74.33 million euros in identified damages. Local authorities are prioritizing the validation of remaining applications to ensure support reaches affected businesses and residents quickly.
The Leiria National Forest will sell approximately 100,000 cubic metres of timber felled by Storm Kristin through a public auction. During his visit to the site, President António José Seguro also confirmed plans to create a memorial at the location of a fallen 165-year-old eucalyptus tree.
Update: President demands storm response report
President António José Seguro concluded his five-day Open Presidency by demanding a formal report from the government regarding the response to recent storms. He emphasized that current aid levels and planning must be adapted to better support affected regions, particularly in agriculture.
António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and the current President of the Portuguese Republic, inaugurated on March 9, 2026 after winning the two-round presidential election in January–February 2026.
Career: He led Socialist Youth (1990–1994), served as MEP (1999–2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001–2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004–2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and a decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025 and won the presidency in February 2026.
Political philosophy: Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, advocating financial responsibility while opposing austerity. As President, he has emphasized institutional trust, efficient governance, and a collaborative relationship with the government while maintaining rigorous constitutional oversight.
The European Commission has announced a financial aid package to help Portugal recover from the damage caused by recent severe weather events.
The funds are intended for the recovery of damage caused by the storms at the beginning of the year
The European Commission has proposed mobilising 489 million euros from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Malta recover from the severe damage caused by storms and flooding in January and February of this year. Of this total, the largest portion, amounting to 261 million euros, ...
The Government will extend the Waste Management Fee (TGR) exemption until the end of the year for the area affected by the destruction caused by storm Kristin in January. The information was provided by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, during a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic. The minister confirmed the extension after being questioned by deputies, as the current exemption was set to expire at the end of September. The TGR is a fee charged by the State to waste management entities, which is then passed on to municipalities and subsequently to citizens through water bills.
Residents have already asked the Marinha Grande local council for help, but so far, nothing has been done.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Sea requested speed in the cleaning and removal of woody material.
On the day marking six months since the passage of the storm Kristin, the Mission Structure for the Recovery of the Country's Central Region admitted that it will be impossible to execute, by December 2027, the approximately five billion euros earmarked for the reconstruction of the territories affected by the so-called train of storms.
The president of the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region stated that the territory, severely affected by storm Kristin six months ago, remains far from recovery, citing serious issues with fixed-line communications and a lack of response from insurance companies.
The Government explained that the support aims to ensure the restoration of broadcasting and transmission capacity for radio stations that suffered damage to their infrastructure and equipment.
Six months after storm Kristin, Ferreira do Zêzere considers the most critical phase of the emergency to be over, now preparing for the 'Viver Ferreira do Zêzere' festivities, but admits that the recovery is far from complete.
Portugal will receive an advance of 65.37 million euros from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to financially support recovery efforts for damages caused by the series of storms that devastated the central region of the country between January 22 and February 15 of this year.
The European Commission has released funds to assist Portugal in recovering from the damage caused by recent storms.
Funds made available by the European Union are intended to cover the immediate costs of recovering from the damage caused by the storm that hit the country at the beginning of the year
At the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission on Wildfires, ANEFA warns that threatening landowners with fines for failing to clear land by June was “insensitive”. Work bans during the summer cost 10 million.
The GALP Foundation and the Portuguese Red Cross have launched a €1 million programme to support communities affected by the winter’s storms and flooding in Portugal, combining emergency relief with The post GALP and Red Cross Launch €1 million storm recovery programme appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Operators justify the delays with the volume of work following the storm. The municipality has already cleared 260 km of paths, but the removal of woody debris may take months.
Operators justify the delay citing a lack of conditions and resources
Twenty-two municipalities affected by bad weather that will manage integrated landscape management operations (OIGP) will receive 30 million euros in the coming days, announced the Secretary of State for Forests, Rui Ladeira, this Tuesday. “Of the 40 million euros in resources that we made available in the context of Storm Kristin...”
Nearly 29 million euros in compensation for housing damage caused by the storms at the beginning of the year have already been paid in the Central region, the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) announced today.
About half of the 35,908 applications for support to recover homes affected by the storms at the beginning of the year have been processed by the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR), with a total of 52.76 million euros approved. According to data from the Government's platform, the various CCDRs have processed 18,279 applications (51%), of which...
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion stated that 9,237 applications have already been paid.
At issue are statements by the Minister of Territorial Cohesion in which he pointed to a “great disparity” between municipalities in the assessment of housing affected by the storms.
The approach of summer is also one of the major concerns in the areas affected by the storms.
With the help of two sponsors who appeared on 'Olá, Bom Dia!' this Monday, the family whose house was destroyed by the storm will receive assistance.
The first open presidency of António José Seguro in the region most affected by the storms has concluded.
