The initial €1 million damage estimate from Albufeira councillor Ana Vidigal has proved very much an estimate as today those insurance companies with clients in the flooded downtown area estimate their customers have lost at least €10 million - and rising.
The November 1st flooding cascaded into the lower part of the town sweeping away roads, vehicles, pavements and flooding shops and basements in the worst such event on record.
The insurance companies estimate that at least half of the businesses affected, 200 or more, have no flood insurance but have suffered in equal measure to those insured.
The council bill for ruined infrastructure and street furniture has yet to be assessed but will run into millions of euros.
The government response has been feeble, futile and deliberately punishing for a region treated as a cash cow when it comes to taxes, and an unwanted guest when asking for help and assistance.
Instead of declaring Albufeira a disaster zone, which would immediately have released special funds to offer on-the-spot aid and assistance, the Council of Ministers, egged on by the bizarre ramblings of the new Minister for Internal Affairs, instead pointed to three smaller funds that could be used by Albufeira and its business owners.
These funds are tricky to access, deliberately restrictive and insufficient to cover the immediate or medium term needs in order to get the town back on its feet and earning money again.
Vague offers made by locals, MPs and trade bodies of ‘arranging finance’ have been met with ridicule as if a new loan is going to get the mud out of the basement.
Albufeira Mayor Carlos Sousa e Silva now has admitted the three local funds will not cope with the immediate demands as he struggles to get the area cleaned up and trading before the vital Christmas and New Year holiday periods.
Rejected by Lisbon, the Albufeira traders, volunteers, council workers, firemen and even the local Scouts are getting on with the job amid the encouragement of the Algarve's residents and many international tourists with good memories of the town.
When the inevitable urgent report is produced in several years' time, the findings will include the folly of the civil engineering works rushed through without licence by former mayor Desidério Silva which served to restrict the natural storm water outflow system, the condescension of the visiting minister who at least managed to spread his insults evenly, the refusal by the government to declare the area a disaster zone so as to save money, and the dedication and self-determination of the Algarvian locals who simply have got on with the job of resurrecting their businesses with a smile and hard work.
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