“we never got over it”

30 years have passed but the memory remains painful. Christian Lecomte, a resident of Saint-Pavace (Sarthe), and Michel Rioux, from Le Mans, suffered like other residents significant flooding during the floods which affected the department in 1995.

In addition to financial damage, there is moral damage during the disaster but also linked to anxiety to see the phenomenon repeat itself.

Their houses flooded in 1995: “we never recovered”

The historic floods of 1995 hit some residents hard, including Christian Lecomte. “The house was inhabitable and we couldn’t get to it,” he recalls. “We stayed two months without living there. »

My wife and I never got over it. You have a house, a plot of land of 1,400 square meters and you find yourself on a mattress in accommodation that is lent to you.

If part of the damage is material, the psychological shock was particularly violent. “We had slides with deceased family members which disappeared over time,” sighs Christian Lecomte.

The memory is just as vivid for Michel Rioux whose house was flooded in the Pontlieue district of Le Mans.

“My house was built in the 1980s and had been raised. The floods only affected the lower part but many objects and walls were impacted. Everything had to be done again,” rewinds the one at the head of the ADSPQI (association for the defense of victims of flood-prone areas).

There is the psychological factor, it is difficult to get back on track, it has an impact on your family, your children…

Le Manceau remembers the gas, water and electricity cuts. For his part, he had chosen to stay living in his house for fear of potential looting.

“It was a flood which lasted around ten days with lasting aftereffects” after the flood receded.

Fear of new floods

If 30 years have passed, the specter of the floods of 1995 is never far away. Every winter, Christian Lecomte monitors the rising waters and considers that the urbanization of the northern area of ​​Le Mans has accentuated the phenomenon. “Before, the fields drank the water, now the water comes from below us. »

The Sarthois, who settled in Saint-Pavace in 1979, evokes a anxiety harm faced with the fear of seeing this event repeat itself.

“Beyond the financial impact, every year, I see the water rising in the fields behind my house. And I tell myself that if it lasts, we are good to go again,” breathes Christian Lecomte.

“Winter slows us down. We have this climate fear : are more floods coming? », adds Michel Rioux.

Heavy financial damage

The floods of 1995 also had consequences on the real estate value from the house of Christian Lecomte. The Palvinéen indicates that studies revealed that his house had lost 40,000 euros in value.

More recently, an expert from Le Mans Métropole carried out a free diagnosis as part of the PPRI (Flood Risk Prevention Plan). The amount of 8,000 euros for work aimed at protecting his home was estimated.

“We obviously lost money and we are going to lose it again for work that should protect us against flooding,” explains the owner who should advance these 8 000 euros.Compensation can go up to 80% under this Barnier fund. He notes: “Up to 80% does not mean 80%”

A double punishment for Christian Lecomte who, with Michel Rioux and the other members of the association, wants the public authorities to tackle the issue of flood risk prevention head on.

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