In Mouy, in the Oise, the bad weather on the night of May 1 caused a lot of material damage. . Quickly, a surge of solidarity mobilized residents of the town and surrounding areas to come to the aid of the victims. The Red Cross is calling for donations of food and household appliances.
“Solidarity, smiles, outstretched hands. That’s it too Mouy !“, rejoices the municipality on Facebook, thanking all those who helped those affected by the bad weather on the night of May 1st.
That night, violent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall caused flooding in the town. Although there were no victims, around fifty homes were affected.
In some places, the water rose up to a meter high, carrying furniture and trinkets with it. “It was an apocalyptic vision when I arrived“, remembers Nathalie André, general director of services at Mouy town hall.
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Quickly, a chain of solidarity was put in place. Meals offered by a pizzeria, collective cleaning and clearing, support from local associations and businesses… Important support for the municipality which quickly set about finding rehousing solutions.
“An exceptional thing: a lodge has agreed to welcome families until Tuesday morning“, specifies Nathalie André, relieved by this additional solution which makes it possible to complete the arrangements in the housing that the town hall will offer to the victims. “The Lockimmo company, too, which is based in the Château de Mouy, has just bought a house next to its headquarters to transform it into an office: they are lending it to us, they told us ‘if you need it, take it there‘”.
Secours catholique is also mobilizing, offering coffee, support, and a financial boost.”to help out families, because it will be complicated while the insurance companies reimburse“, specifies Nathalie André.
The town hall also contacted the Red Cross to request material donations. “Two families have already come to look for clothes, because they left their homes in a hurry“, explains Jacqueline Cartier, head of the Mouy Red Cross branch.
The day after the disaster, she launched a call for donations on Facebook. “We immediately got a lot of feedback, there was great solidarityshe assures. I had a lot of clothes. (…) We recovered a lot of furniture, what we miss the most is the household appliances : fridge, gas stove, microwave…“
“In some houses, the ground floor was flooded, and they had trouble cookingunderlines Nathalie André. But some houses are on one level, and there, they had nothing left.”
Food aid is also welcome, canned goods and dry products. The Red Cross branch is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Distribution could also begin, and even extend beyond the borders of Mouy. “We should also be able to help nearby municipalities which have also been affected.“, indicates the branch manager.
“There was a tremendous mobilization of municipal teams and elected officials, I am proud to lead a team like that!”
Nathalie André, general director of services at Mouy town hall
But first, you will have to determine the needs. “We are in the process of assessing, we will gradually realize the extent of the damageexplains Nathalie André. We are in such demand that afterwards, we will run out of storage space ! So we are asking to stay at home for the moment, while we find out who needs what.“
A lot of work, therefore, but collective work. “There was a tremendous mobilization of municipal teams and elected officials, I am proud to lead a team like that !“, assures the general director of services. Especially since at the same time, the municipality is working on putting together a request for recognition of the state of natural disaster.
