in Pas-de-Calais, an entire neighborhood will be destroyed after repeated floods

Reportage After three floods last winter, residents of Blendecques made the difficult decision to leave their homes. Their houses, bought by the State, will be demolished, and their neighborhood will be completely razed.

Debris scattered on the ground, a garage open to the four winds, walls so bare that we can see the concrete blocks… The pretty red brick house of Jean-François Ghillebaert, located at number 11 of Impasse Roger-Salengro , in Blendecques (Pas-de-Calais), is nothing more than a ruin. A year after the first of the three floods which hit this village located near Saint-Omer, only the facades of the building are still standing. “It’s torture to see this”sighs the father of the family, his features drawn. In mid-October, Jean-François found the strength to return to the site one last time to dismantle and recover the few things that were not destroyed when the Aa, the river that passes through his land , has overflowed: windows, chandeliers, a fireplace insert… He also intends to take away the two olive trees which adorn his garden, the last traces of this previous life, which the water has swallowed up. Then, he swears, he will never come back: “It’s time to turn the page. »

After a year consumed by stress, the Blendecquois, his wife and their two daughters aged 15 and 12 finally see the end of the tunnel. In agreement with the agglomeration community of Pays de Saint-Omer (Capso) and the State, the Ghillebaert family and their neighbors have made a strong and rare decision: everyone will definitely leave the neighborhood. “Nature sent us a clear signal: “Run away, don’t stay there.” We decided to listen…