update on traffic conditions

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The snow fell heavily on the Orne, Thursday November 21, 2024. In a few hours, several centimeters covered the landscapes and roads of the department, causing several accidents, numerous power outages and traffic difficulties. This seriously disturbed residents, particularly motorists.

The authorities had anticipated the phenomenon. Météo France has placed the orange vigilance department until this Friday noon. The Orne departmental council mobilized its resources and the prefecture issued an order to prohibit the circulation of heavy goods vehicles on the department's roads.

Follow the live situation on the Orne, this Friday November 22, 2024.

10:12 a.m. 32,000 homes without electricity in Orne this Friday morning

Thursday November 21, 2024, the Caetano storm crossed France. The electricity distribution network faced strong winds and (sticky) snowfall which caused trees or branches to fall on the cables.

The number of customers without electricity is increased to 270,000 during the night of Thursday to Friday November 22, 2024. Thanks to maneuvers on the network operated by Enedis teams, this figure dropped to 200,000 at 7 a.m. this morning. The most affected regions are Normandy (69,000 customers, including 32,000 in Orne22,000 in Calvados, 7,000 in Manche, 7,000 in Eure, 1,000 in Seine-Maritime), Pays de Loire (37,000) Center Val de Loire (22,000).

The wind plus snow weather episode is ending but the snow is still present this morning, which makes difficult interventions.

2,200 Enedis technicians and 400 service providers from across France were pre-mobilized as part of the FIRE (Rapid Electricity Intervention Force) yesterday and will begin repairs this morning because travel safety conditions will be reduced overnight were not fulfilled. Winds blew between 110 and 130 km/hour.

In Normandy, around 1,000 people are mobilized to restore electricity: Enedis Normandy technicians, teams of service providers, and several cohorts of Enedis technicians en route from the Ile-de-France, Picardie and Nord-Pas regions. de-Calais to provide reinforcement in the most affected areas, as part of FIRE.

Helicopters and drones are used to carry out diagnostics.

Enedis aims to replenish 90% of its customers i.e. 240,000 of the 270,000 in 48 hours, i.e. Saturday evening and the rest Sunday evening. The crisis unit at Enedis headquarters operates 24 hours a day.

9:46 a.m. The Orne prefecture takes stock of the situation

Traffic conditions remain poor across the entire network. On the national network as on the main departmental network, salting operations

continue continuously, including 35 winter treatment machines hired by the departmental council.

The evacuation maneuvers of heavy goods vehicles parked in storage areas towards viable networks at the edge of the department carried out by the internal security forces made it possible to empty the parking areas.

On the A28, traffic is blocked in both directions of traffic. In the South-North direction, 3 kilometers of traffic jams have formed. The frost makes traffic dangerous, if not impossible, particularly on the particularly steep and icy Gacé slope. Heavy goods vehicles have found themselves jackknifed and blocking traffic. These heavy goods vehicles were traveling in contravention of the prefectural ban order. The lifting and towing machines are at work but working in very difficult conditions.

Consequently, the prefect has decided to prohibit by prefectural decree the circulation of any vehicle on the A28 between exit 15 (Sées) and exit 17 (Orbec) in both directions of traffic for an indefinite period at this stage. Users already involved are encouraged to exit the motorway as soon as they can and as much as possible at the Sées (South-North direction) and Orbec (North-South direction) exits.

Truck drivers who use the department's roads in violation of prefectural decrees will be duly fined €135 and will be held criminally or civilly liable in the event of a bodily or material accident.

9:34 a.m. Reinforced traffic ban measures in Orne

The prefect of Orne renews and strengthens traffic ban measures until noon, Friday November 22, 2024:

• The circulation of any vehicle is prohibited on the A28 between exit 15 (Sées) and exit 17 (Orbec) in both directions of traffic.

• The circulation of school transport in Orne is prohibited by prefectural decree, in consultation with the Regional Council.

• The circulation of heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes is prohibited on the entire road network. Exceptions remain in a limited number of cases (tow trucks, milk collection, transport of live animals, etc.).

• The circulation of public transport is prohibited by prefectural decree, in consultation with the communities.

• The circulation of any vehicle is prohibited in forest areas due to the risk of falling trees.

In total, 163 personal rescue interventions were carried out by the SDIS, including:

• 30 road accidents, not serious, linked to the current weather episode

• 57 tree falls

9:26 a.m. Power cuts in progress in the department

32,000 homes are deprived of electricity in the department. 80 technicians from ENEDIS de l'Orne are mobilized and will be joined by as many national reinforcements from Ile-de-France and Nord-Pas-de-Calais and service providers able to strengthen the means of intervention.

Any incident or anomaly observed must be reported to Enedis via the number 09 726 750 61 (reachable 24/7). “Patients at high vital risk” (PHRD) are identified and are

contacted or in the process of contact. 4 home visits were made to check the patients' situation.

The telephone network is cut or defective in certain areas of the department. In the event of an emergency and in the absence of a telephone connection, go directly to the nearest SDIS emergency center.

9:11 a.m. Train passengers picked up at Argentan

Passengers on SNCF Paris-Granville trains stranded at Argentan station were taken care of and spent the night in a gymnasium. Fragile people were taken care of more specifically. Six firefighters and 4 police officers are mobilized on site.

The SNCF is chartering coaches this morning which will transport passengers still stranded to Granville.

The operational command post armed on site by the sub-prefect of Argentan, with the mayor of Argentan, SDIS 61, the departmental association of civil protection (ADPC), the national police and the SNCF remains operational until to the handling of passengers by buses.

9:05 a.m. Triggering of the extreme cold plan in Orne

At the same time, due to the temperatures forecast for the coming days, the prefect has triggered the severe cold plan until Monday November 25, 2024. Daily patrols are carried out and additional emergency accommodation places are opened.

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