“We’re really breathing now”: nearly thirty families who were victims of flooding in the North are invited to a campsite in the Cévennes

“Floods are always in the back of our minds. But now, we’re really breathing.” The Hamnouche-Barrois family, like the 27 others, set up camp last weekend at the Bel Été campsite in Anduze. A few months ago, when the rains were devastating and flooding the territory of the commune of Blendecques (Nord), Olinda and Frédéric Amsaleg, the managers, followed this story closely, then mobilized to offer the victims a week of vacation. (see our previous editions).

Between walks, swimming, and aperitifs on the terraces of the mobile homes they occupy, the Blendecquois came to breathe a little, “before facing reality again. Ah! Look, in front of us is my neighbor from the street in Blendecques. Her house was completely flooded, too.”says one of the family members.

In the swimming pool, where a waterball session has just ended, Romain, Djoy and Agnès are splashing around and sunbathing. “We do everything not to think about the struggles, about what we have lost and will not get back. We are going to visit the Trabuc cave, go to the Aquaforest… A real vacation! We thought it was a joke before arriving here… We will always thank them”summarizes Djoy.

” A lot of emotions “

A little further away, on the deckchairs, Alicia, accompanied by her sister, her mother, her children and her partner, enjoys, in addition to the good weather, the luxury of healthy accommodation. “Here I have a kitchen. At home I have nothing. Over there is camping.”the young woman says ironically, smiling nonetheless.

Since the beginning of the week, Jade Amsaleg has been observing the emotional scenes that are repeated, tracing them to her personal history. A few years ago, the campsite and her house were destroyed by the rains.The stay began with an aperitif, where my parents made a welcome speech. There were tears, smiles. Some had never been on vacationthe young woman recalls. Every evening, we meet up for an aperitif, we dance, there are themes. It allows them to clear their heads, but also to share stories, to get things off their chests. It’s just a vacation, but it’s a little extra.”

In the region and further afield, other acts of solidarity have joined the Bel Été project. The Belgian web media TV Wallonie provides Blendecuqois with discounts on activities in the surrounding area, the singers who host the evenings at the campsite offer to come and play for free… “When we see all this, we say to ourselves: it’s won. Especially when we know what they have suffered,” Olinda Amsaleg observes, moved. Tired, overwhelmed by the start of the season, she and her husband are satisfied with the recognition of their guests.

A mirror engraved with a thank you note, made by all the Blendecquois, is already hanging at the reception. “It’s a gift for life,” concludes Frédéric Amsaleg.