Cars and buses are running normally again, a sign that life is resuming in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (Yvelines). Storm Kirk wreaked havoc during the night from Wednesday to Thursday in this village of 8,000 inhabitants, where the water rose up to 1.50 m. “There are more than a hundred victims,” Marion Grobon, an elected official from the town, tells the Parisian.
Another consequence was that electricity was cut for 48 hours in the most affected areas. “Residents are not necessarily leaving their homes because of the water, but because they can no longer use their electrical appliances to eat or warm up,” explains Marion Grobon. The power has not yet been restarted because the electrical installations are still waterlogged. The town hall hopes to resolve the problem during the day.
To relieve local residents as quickly as possible, Mayor Dominique Bavoil (without label) called on the services of the Red Cross. Since Thursday evening, a permanent office has been set up at the Jean-Racine cultural center. This Friday, the members of the association were at short notice from 7 a.m., “We operated all night, 10 volunteers took turns welcoming the victims,” says Bastien, a volunteer.
Many spent the night with relatives
The Red Cross had provided 25 foldable camp beds, food and hot drinks. “We welcomed a family from the village with two children around 8 p.m. on Thursday. They no longer had electricity so they ate and recharged their phones,” explains Bastien. A couple also came to seek help from the association, however, no one stayed to sleep “people found comfortable solutions to spend the night, they took refuge with friends or in a hotel” adds the volunteer.
Although the situation seems to be improving, the Red Cross wishes to leave its system in place in the community hall. “They are still predicting bad weather on Saturday,” warns Bastien. So we would like to stay until Sunday to guarantee a reception point. »
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