The consequences of the earthquake forced the Spanish authorities, who ruled Sicily at the time to focus on this emergency.
Giuseppe Lanza, Duke of Camastra, was appointed vicar general for the reconstruction of the Val di Noto.
The decision was not accidental; the nobleman had already participated in the reconstruction of Santo Stefano di Camastra, after it was hit by a landslide in 1682. He was in charge of coordinating rescues and re-establishing acceptable living conditions. He carefully chose the locations and layout of the roads, with valuable support from architects and engineers.
