What DANA actually is
DANA stands for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos. In plain English: an isolated cold air mass that detaches from the polar jet stream and sits above the warm, moisture-heavy Mediterranean. The clash between the two creates intense, sustained rainfall that can remain locked over the same area for two to three days.
It is also called “gota fría” — cold drop — and if you have lived in or owned property in Andalusia for any length of time, you will have heard that term before.
What makes DANA different from a regular storm is the duration and the volume. It does not pass through in a few hours. It sits. Areas around Málaga and the Axarquía have recorded over 100 litres of rain per square metre in a single 12-hour period during significant events. The October 2024 DANA killed 237 people across Spain and caused over €10 billion in total damage. The November 2024 event brought Málaga to a standstill, triggered over 300 emergency incidents across the province, and swept vehicles away in Benagarmosa – a village in the heart of the Axarquía.
When DANA season is
The core DANA season runs from September to November. September and October are historically the most active months, but significant events have hit in November and December too. The 2024 season produced two major events within weeks of each other.
Fifty years ago, a DANA event occurred every three or four years. Today they can happen all year round, and the trend is intensifying. If you own property in the Axarquía, treating DANA season as a real annual risk – and preparing for it accordingly – is not being alarmist. It is being sensible.
What DANA does to properties
The damage pattern is consistent across events and across property types.
Roofs and gutters take the most damage. Roof tiles are displaced or lifted by wind before the rain arrives. Gutters blocked with summer debris overflow immediately and force water back under roof edges or down exterior walls.
Outdoor structures go quickly. Gates, boundary fencing, retaining walls, sun shades, awnings, pergolas, and outdoor furniture are all vulnerable. Unsecured outdoor furniture becomes a projectile in DANA wind conditions.
Shutters and blinds that are open when a DANA arrives are frequently destroyed. Closed and latched shutters protect windows. Open ones do not survive.
Ground-floor flooding happens when drainage systems are overwhelmed. Even properties that have never flooded before can take water in an extreme DANA event if drains and terraces are not clear.
Power outages are standard. Electrical infrastructure across rural parts of the Axarquía can be out for hours or longer after significant events.
Window seals fail under sustained driving rain. Water finds its way in through any deteriorated caulking or seal, causing interior damage that owners sometimes do not discover for weeks.
Why rural Axarquía properties are more exposed than coastal apartments
A coastal apartment in a community building has a community president, shared maintenance contracts, and neighbours who notice things. A rural finca outside Cómpeta or Canillas de Albaida has none of that.
Access roads. Rural tracks to fincas and village properties wash out and become impassable during and after DANA events. Your property might be structurally fine but completely unreachable for days. No contractor can get in to assess or repair until the road is passable again.
Retaining walls. The hillside plots across the Axarquía are typically terraced and held by stone retaining walls. Sustained heavy rain saturates the soil behind these walls. When they fail, they fail fast and expensively.
Water wells. Properties on private water supplies can have their well contaminated by floodwater infiltration. The property becomes unusable until the supply is tested and confirmed safe.
Flat roofs. Traditional village houses and older fincas often have flat or near-flat roofs. These pool water rather than shedding it. In a sustained downpour they are significantly more vulnerable than a pitched roof.
No one nearby. If no one is watching your property, damage can sit for days before anyone notices. A leak that is caught in 24 hours is a repair job. The same leak after a week is a structural problem.
What to do before a DANA arrives
The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issues storm warnings in advance. Orange and red warnings for the Axarquía area are the signals to take this seriously. If you have a local contact or property manager, they should be monitoring this during DANA season and acting on your behalf.
Before DANA season starts in September, check these:
Gutters and drains. Clear accumulated summer debris from gutters, downspouts, terrace drains, and any drainage channels on the plot. A blocked gutter in normal rain is an inconvenience. In a DANA it forces water into the roof structure.
Roof tiles. Check for any loose or cracked tiles from the summer. A loose tile in calm conditions becomes a missing tile in DANA wind, and a missing tile means water gets in.
Retaining walls. Walk the plot boundaries and look for any bulging, cracking, or movement in retaining walls. Catch movement early and the repair is manageable.
Trees and shrubs. Trim overhanging branches near the property before autumn. Dead or weak branches are projectiles in high wind.
Shutters. Check that all shutters close properly and latch securely. Test every one. A shutter that does not latch fully will not survive a DANA.
Outdoor furniture and equipment. Move everything that can be moved inside before a storm is forecast. Garden furniture, pots, tools, pool equipment, parasols. If it cannot go inside, tie it down or lay it flat.
Window and door seals. Check caulking and seals around every external window and door frame. Deteriorated seals are the most common source of interior water damage during DANA events and are one of the cheapest maintenance items to sort before they cause a problem.
Insurance. Confirm your Spanish home insurance policy is active and up to date. This matters more than anything else on this list.
What to do after a DANA hits your property
Step one: do not touch anything before you photograph it.
This is the most important instruction in this entire article. If you plan to make an insurance claim — and you should – you need photographic and video evidence of every item of damage exactly as it was found. Before any debris is moved, before any repair starts, before anyone clears anything. Loss adjusters from the Consorcio (Spain’s extraordinary risk insurance body) will visit the property. If the evidence has been cleaned up before they arrive, your claim is significantly weakened.
Step two: assess the damage in categories.
Roof and structural damage first – does water have access to the interior? If yes, that is the priority. Temporary protection (covering a missing tile section with sheeting, for example) is acceptable and does not compromise your claim, as long as you have photographed the original damage first.
Security issues second – are gates, fences, or doors compromised in a way that leaves the property unsecured?
Everything else – furniture, shutters, awnings – can wait.
Step three: call your insurer.
Contact your Spanish home insurance company as soon as possible. Many insurance companies now handle Consorcio claims on behalf of their policyholders, meaning you may not have to take any action yourself beyond reporting the damage and providing documentation. Your insurer will advise whether they are handling the claim directly or whether you need to contact the CCS separately.
How the Spanish insurance system works for DANA damage
This is where most foreign property owners have gaps in their knowledge.
Spain has a government body called the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS) that covers extraordinary natural catastrophes, including DANA flooding. DANA damage is covered for both individuals and insured property, with compensation provided by insurers, the CCS, or Agroseguro depending on the nature of the claim.
The essential condition: The CCS only compensates if you have an active insurance policy in place – home insurance, vehicle insurance, or a community policy – with the corresponding CCS surcharge paid. This surcharge is included automatically on all standard Spanish home insurance policies. If your home insurance is active and paid up, you almost certainly have CCS coverage. If you have no insurance at the time of the storm, you have no CCS coverage. None.
The economic losses from the October 2024 DANA exceeded €20 billion. The scale triggered an unprecedented collaboration between private insurers and the CCS to deliver the claims response.
What CCS covers:
- Material damage to insured property from extraordinary flooding
- Temporary accommodation costs if the property is made uninhabitable
- Loss of rental income for property owners
What CCS does NOT cover:
- Damage from direct rainfall alone – rain entering through a roof or window seal is classified as seepage, not extraordinary flooding
- Wind gusts below 120 km/h
- Damage attributable to lack of maintenance before the storm – blocked gutters, failed seals, unrepaired tiles
- Contents unless specifically included in your policy
How to contact the CCS directly:
- Free phone: 900 222 665
- Website: consorseguros.es
- Email: ccs@consorseguros.es
File as soon as possible. The CCS recommends within seven days, though they accept later claims. Bring your policy document, NIE, photographs, and repair quotes.
If you are not based in the Axarquía
Everything above assumes someone can get to your property quickly after a storm. If you are in the UK, Ireland, or the Netherlands and you get a message from a neighbour at 9pm saying your gate is on the ground, you need someone local who can go out, assess the damage, photograph everything in the right order, arrange temporary protection if needed, and report back to you before anyone starts touching anything.
That is exactly what our property maintenance and emergency call-out service covers. We go out, document what we find, handle the immediate priorities, and give you what you need for your insurance claim – all without you needing to book a flight.
Frequently asked questions
When is DANA season in Spain?
The core DANA season runs from September to November, with October historically the most active month. However, significant events have occurred outside this window. The 2024 season produced two major DANA events – one in late October and another in November – both of which caused serious damage across Málaga province and the Axarquía.
Is my Spanish property covered for DANA storm damage?
If you have an active Spanish home insurance policy with the premium paid, your policy almost certainly includes a CCS surcharge that gives you access to extraordinary risk coverage for DANA events. The key condition is that the policy must be active at the time of the storm. If you have no insurance, you have no CCS coverage. Contact your insurer to confirm your specific coverage before storm season starts.
What does DANA damage to houses look like?
The most common damage types are displaced or missing roof tiles, blocked or torn gutters, broken gates and fencing, destroyed sun shades and awnings, water infiltration through deteriorated window seals, interior flooding on ground floors, pool debris, and power outages. Rural properties with retaining walls, flat roofs, or private water supplies face additional specific risks.
What should I check at my Spanish property before DANA season?
Gutters and terrace drains (clear all debris), roof tiles (fix any loose or cracked tiles), retaining walls (look for movement or cracking), shutters (confirm they all close and latch properly), outdoor furniture (have a plan to bring it inside), window and door seals (repair any deteriorated caulking), and home insurance (confirm it is active and up to date).
How do I claim insurance after a DANA storm in Spain?
Contact your Spanish insurer first – many now handle CCS claims on your behalf. If they do not, contact the CCS directly on 900 222 665 (free), through consorseguros.es, or by email at ccs@consorseguros.es. Before making any repairs, photograph and video all damage. Bring your insurance policy document, NIE, photos, and repair quotes. The CCS recommends filing within seven days, though late claims are accepted.
What is the difference between DANA and a regular storm?
A regular storm passes through. A DANA sits. It is a cold air mass that detaches from the polar jet stream and stalls above the warm Mediterranean, creating sustained, intense rainfall over the same area for two to three days. Some areas have recorded over 100 litres of rain per square metre in 12 hours during significant DANA events. That volume of water overwhelms drainage systems, roads, and properties in a way that a standard storm does not.
If you want to talk through what preparation makes sense for your specific property before September, send me a message on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp: +34 711 032 640
For specific insurance queries about your policy coverage and CCS claim eligibility, always speak directly with your insurer or a qualified gestor. Coverage conditions vary between policies and between insurers.
