Depression Kirk still disturbs the victims affected. In Seine-et-Marnemore than one hundred municipalities were recognized in state of natural disaster. Communities located near Little Morin or Grand Morin particularly suffered. Roads blocked, residents displaced and streets destroyed… Nothing could prepare local residents for such a storm. In Marne and Gondoireit is a policy of anticipation which has protected local residents. Explanations.
How was the Kirk storm managed by the Marne and Gondoire services? On the night of October 9 to 10, 2024, the Urban Community teams rushed onto the field. For what ? Observe the different watercourses. “ In reality, there were two events. There was heavy rain suddenly (Wednesday), we were treated to floods of runoff. On Marne and Gondoire, we managed to control this runoff using retention basins that we had installed. We had also cleaned a lot of ponds to avoid sedimentation.we have regained volume so that the water comes to temper here before releasing into natural environments. » Thanks to these various precautions, many homes have been preserved. “ Ensuite, there was the rise of the Marne on Marne and Gondoireit mainly concerned the town of Lagny-sur-Marne. We climbed to a classic height… The situation was under control because we invested a lot of money. We still have a lot of things to do, that's why our comrades went out into the field to take videos. » For several hours, the departments took turns taking valuable notes. Data that will help guide future work… and anticipate possible problems. A collective policy which has preserved the entire Urban Community!
The competence of GEMAPI? An opportunity that had to be seized! In this dynamic of living together (and therefore of doing together), the elected officials of Marne and Gondoire have chosen to pass on this skill to the Urban Community to have an overview. “ When we had GEMAPI (management of aquatic environments and flood prevention), elected officials told us that we had the entire water cycle: from drinking water to its passage to residents (cleaned then returned to natural environment). » Implacable logic serving local residents. Individually, some municipalities could not have the means to schedule heavy work (too expensive). “ Every year, we spend a lot of money on the global water cyclewe are still at a little over 10 million euros. There is a real investment. The goal is for residents not to be bothered. The greatest success for us is that we didn't have the televisions that came. » Good management praised by many residents. “ Every flood is complicated. There, there are people who are in real, very, very difficult situations which could have been avoided… What is important is to learn from what happened to prevent it from happening again. It will be necessary to tell certain residents that certain housing may no longer be habitable. We have identified accommodation which is starting to become complicated. At some point, perhaps the State will have to create a fund to buy back its buildings there. » Very soon, insurers could no longer follow… A dramatic situation.
« We didn't want to take too much money from the start because we didn't know how to spend it. Tax must be useful ! »
What is GEMAPI? Delegated by the State, this competence is included in your property tax, depending on your territory. At its establishment, the Urban Community quickly acted. “ It's smarter for the territories to do it, rather than people further away.. From the start, we said to ourselves that we had to take this skill into account (the GEMAPI tax) to be able to finish working on the water cycle. Initially, we took a derisory sum to be able to study (a symbolic euro). We went to see where we needed to work. Once we made our multi-year investment plan for aquatic environments, we asked for a larger share. » Every year, Marne et Gondoire raises 3 million euros to develop its territory (within the framework of this competence). What was done? Firstly, the basins were all cleaned, to prevent certain communities from being flooded. In another time, the Urban Community launched larger works. “ The priorities were multiple: de-artificialize certain watercourses (like in Montévrain). The inhabitants were not inundated by the floods linked to Ru du Bicheret. It's quite a good success on our part. If the work had not been done, it could have been a real disaster in this area.. ” At the same time, the services regularly monitor the retention basins to see if you need to enlarge them or scrub them (to gain volume). “ We did studies. There are basins that need to be enlarged, they will be enlarged. We did a lot of work. » To anticipate as best as possible, elected officials rely on the knowledge of farmers. To store water upstream, some fields could accommodate a small ditch (with hedges to filter the water). “ Our role is also to see with the farmer how we can recover a piece of land. ” Objective ? Direct watercourses towards natural environments (and not near houses).
How can territories face the challenges of tomorrow? Originally, the GEMAPI tax was supposed to be temporary… Today, communities must face new challenges. To preserve its residents, elected officials should continue to rely on this competence. “ GEMAPI does not solve everything. It will solve everything in the long term. Climate change will last for years to come. There is a national plan for adaptation to climate change which foresees that we will rise to more than 4°C in France… We will have to continue to adapt on a daily basis. » To cope with these changes, communities will continue to plan large-scale works. “ We will continue to take it for a long time because we will have to continue to change. It will rain more at certain times, less at others… Our territories must adapt. We will work, it will last for years. ” In Marne and Gondoire, elected officials will continue to raise 3 million euros to build new ponds, develop your territory and clean the ponds to avoid tragedies. “ GEMAPI brings 3 million euros to the city to be able to carry out work. We spend 5! We take the money elsewhere. It is better to manage a problem when it arises than when you have to manage its consequences. It's easy to cry about money. The important thing is to act! Climate change is a reality. ” underlines Pierre Tebaldini.
« We anticipate, we look at how we can provide solutions before the problem arises. That's what's interesting. » In Marne and Gondoire, it is a collective policy of anticipation which made it possible to save homes, thanks to the competence of GEMAPI. Developments that have even brought joy to our biodiversity! In Seine-et-Marne, more than a hundred municipalities have been recognized as being in a state of natural disaster.
