The regional government of Sicily approved an emergency decree on 29 January releasing an initial pool of non-repayable grants—symbolically set at €5 as a minimum token—to businesses hit by Cyclone Harry earlier this month. Although the headline figure is small, the scheme opens the door to larger compensation once damages are fully assessed, officials said. Regional civil-protection data show direct infrastructure losses of €741 million, with overall economic damage expected to exceed €1 billion.
Storm-related disruptions continue to affect mobility. Rail services between Messina and Giardini-Taormina remain suspended after landslides destroyed sections of track, forcing travellers onto slow coastal roads. Catania Airport has resumed operations, but ground transport backlogs persist because several arterial roads are still under repair. Hospitality associations warn that cancellations for the upcoming Easter tourist season are already running 18 percent above normal.
![Sicily unlocks emergency grants for firms after Cyclone Harry; transport links still patchy]()
Companies or individual travelers who still need to enter Italy during this unsettled period can streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service provides up-to-date guidance on Italian entry requirements, offers expedited processing for business and tourist visas, and includes real-time status tracking—useful features when itineraries may change at short notice. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The grants, coupled with subsidised loans, aim to help hotels, tour operators and logistics firms quickly restore operations. President Renato Schifani emphasised that “keeping supply chains moving is essential not just for tourism but for Sicily’s role as a freight gateway between Europe and North Africa.” Rome is expected to declare a national state of emergency in the coming days, unlocking additional funds and fast-tracking public-works contracts.
Companies with staff assignments or project sites in Sicily should verify local transport conditions daily and review force-majeure clauses in supplier contracts. Global insurers report that business-interruption claims related to Cyclone Harry may surpass €400 million, suggesting a lengthy recovery period for infrastructure and mobility networks on the island.
Storm-related disruptions continue to affect mobility. Rail services between Messina and Giardini-Taormina remain suspended after landslides destroyed sections of track, forcing travellers onto slow coastal roads. Catania Airport has resumed operations, but ground transport backlogs persist because several arterial roads are still under repair. Hospitality associations warn that cancellations for the upcoming Easter tourist season are already running 18 percent above normal.
Companies or individual travelers who still need to enter Italy during this unsettled period can streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service provides up-to-date guidance on Italian entry requirements, offers expedited processing for business and tourist visas, and includes real-time status tracking—useful features when itineraries may change at short notice. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The grants, coupled with subsidised loans, aim to help hotels, tour operators and logistics firms quickly restore operations. President Renato Schifani emphasised that “keeping supply chains moving is essential not just for tourism but for Sicily’s role as a freight gateway between Europe and North Africa.” Rome is expected to declare a national state of emergency in the coming days, unlocking additional funds and fast-tracking public-works contracts.
Companies with staff assignments or project sites in Sicily should verify local transport conditions daily and review force-majeure clauses in supplier contracts. Global insurers report that business-interruption claims related to Cyclone Harry may surpass €400 million, suggesting a lengthy recovery period for infrastructure and mobility networks on the island.
