By David Latona, Corina Pons, Pietro Lombardi, Aislinn Laing PAIPORTA, Spain (Reuters) -The water was already knee-high on the ground floor of the hotel where Aitana Puchal had taken refuge when she received a text alert from the regional government of Valencia at 8 pm on Oct.

The floods, following unprecedentedly violent rains in the Valencia region of Spain, have resulted in at least 213 deaths and dozens missing. In response to the country’s worst natural disaster, residents and experts are calling for the establishment of a true culture of prevention.

The water was already knee-high on the ground floor of the hotel where Aitana Puchal had taken refugee when she received a text alert from the regional government of Valencia at 8 pm on Oct. 29 warning people to shelter in place from severe flash floods.

The catastrophic torrential rains that overflowed rivers and normally dry canals in eastern Spain last week triggered flash floods that submerged entire communities and killed scores of people.