The BBC World Service talked to an official from Spain's equivalent of NOAA. The official stated that the Fed., Provincial and Local Govts. were of catastrophic rain and the resulting flooding 7 days before hand and the warnings were not taken all that seriously, "they've had flooding in that region for years and it'll be all right...etc." The agency was taken seriously. The official conceded that 7 days was not a lot of time, but stated planning for disasters should have taken place years and years ago.
The Fed. Govt. got caught out. I applaud the King and Queen for taking out this difficult visit and getting caught in the public's anger when it's not the Monarchy that was responsible, it's the Govt. that has the power and responsibility. Notice the PM scooted out as fast as he could.