“FBe careful, there are boards everywhere and fridges on the ground.” When he receives us, Philippe Delaye-Seren, owner of the Pharmacie du Prado, is in the middle of clearing out. He has just started cleaning up his business from the terrible flooding suffered on September 23, when 52 mm of rain fell on the neighborhood in 23 minutes. That day, between 80cm and 1m of water engulfed the pharmacy.
But if the first phase of the incredible cleaning to be carried out finally begins, it is not because he has been compensated, far from it. It's simply because he's got a lot of money and he displays it on the front of the pharmacy: “Not recognized, no reopening”. Because, to date, recognition of the state of natural disaster has still not been made.
“I finance it on my own”
“This September 23, we were devastated in a fairly rapid and incomprehensible way, but we accept it, we make do with it, confides the pharmacist whose family has been present in the neighborhood since 1966. And, just after the flood, we had a visit from our elected officials, the sub-prefect, the different offices… It was very comforting. We said to ourselves that this would allow us to move forward quickly.”
But Philippe Delaye-Seren, like other traders on Boulevard de la République, quickly became disillusioned. “There is a blockage, he laments. Even though the municipality is doing everything to help us get out of this quagmire, it has been more than 2 months since the flood occurred, and we are still not recognized as a natural disaster! However, I know that the request was made, but still not validated. Everyone knows we have to be, but it doesn't change. And a state is a state, if we don't have the paper signed by the authorities, we have nothing.”
So, Philippe Delaye-Seren decided to take things head on and invest his own funds to start cleaning and hope to reopen in less time than necessary.
-“I will fight until the end”
“ While waiting for the state of natural disaster to be recognized, I am financing it myself. With my expert, we tried to understand. But as the order does not come, the insurance companies are afraid. We are at the end of the line. So, I'm starting with my own funds, I'm planning for the moment between 300,000 and 500,000 euros.” Furniture, robot, clearing, stock repurchase…
The pharmacist is currently trying to raise this sum while waiting to receive compensation. “What is our request? That the State recognizes the state of natural disaster, which will finally allow us to resolve our problems, and which will allow businesses to reopen,” he insists.
Today, this blockage prevents 6 employees, technically unemployed, from returning to work. But, above all, he plays with the nerves of this pharmacist whose customers who pass him cannot help but embrace and support him. “The permanent closure? It crossed my mind, yes. But, you know, here, it's my life since 1966. I was born there, I live there. My parents ran this pharmacy. So, I decided to continue fighting, despite the wear and tear and the blows I take. I will fight until the end for my patients and the neighborhood who continue to be there for me.”
