Lisbon, Feb 01 — “We are facing a meteorological phenomenon never seen before,” the Prime Minister stated. This Sunday, the death toll rose to nine.
The Council of Ministers meeting this Sunday resulted in a series of measures for families and businesses affected by Storm Kristin. Luís Montenegro announced support amounting to €2.5 billion to face the effects of a "meteorological phenomenon never seen before".
After the meeting in São Bento, the Prime Minister announced that the situation of calamity will be extended until February 8th and that a "structured mission entity to recover the most affected regions" will be created, operating in Leiria and led by Paulo Fernandes, former mayor of Fundão. He then began to list the support measures:
- Families in "situations of need or loss of income" may receive assistance from Social Security (SS) of up to 537 euros per person and 1,500 euros per household.
- A credit line of 500 million euros will be created for the treasury of companies and other legal entities.
- A scheme exempting companies in critical zones from social security contributions for the next six months, as well as a simplified layoff scheme for three months.
- A credit line of one billion euros for the recovery of business structures without insurance coverage.
- 90-day moratorium on loans to businesses and credit for the purchase of owner-occupied housing.
- "Reconstruction of the primary and permanent residence" up to 10 thousand euros, without the need for documentation when there is no insurance coverage.
The same amount will be available for situations related to agriculture and forestry, in exactly the same amount.
- Transfer of 400 million from the State Budget to Infraestruturas de Portugal for "the most urgent interventions".
- 200 million for regional development commissions "to get the most necessary and urgent funding to local authorities".
- 20 million for the restoration of cultural heritage.