Of the torrential downpours fell on Loire-Atlantique and Vendée this Wednesday, as the depression Kirkwith very large accumulations in places, up to a month of precipitation. The two departments are no longer on orange rain-flood alert. On the other hand, Sèvre Nantaises is in orange alert at flood this Thursday morning, just like the Lay in Vendée and the Vendée river.
The rise in levels is particularly rapid, particularly in the Saint-Mesmin sector, to the east of Vendée, near Pouzauges. In Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, the flood peak is expected this Thursday with a height of 1.70 m. “We will monitor the level of the Sèvre Nantaise since it will continue to rise throughout this day with the soils which, little by little, redistribute the water they collected during the day on Wednesday“, explained this Thursday morning the guest of France Bleu Loire Océan, Guillaume Woznicka, meteorologist from The Weather Channel.
“The water level will rise further throughout the day. And then with the rains that will fall in the coming weeks, we will really have to monitor the hydrological situation closely. The soils are now waterlogged, they can no longer absorb precipitation“, he explained.
A month of precipitation in one day
It was on the island of Noirmoutier and the Pays de Retz that the precipitation was the heaviest. It rained 98 mm in 24 hours on the Vendée islandthis is the equivalent of a normal month of rain in a single day (81 mm for the month of October). Of many streets ended up under waterup to one meter in certain areas, which caused flooding in homes. In Pornic, there was 88 mm of rain, 83 mm in Nantes. There was water infiltration in three schools, but class will be able to take place normally this Thursday.
More than 450 interventions in Loire-Atlantique
Firefighters intervened 132 times in Vendée this Wednesday, more than 450 times in Loire-Atlantique, particularly in the Pays de Retz. “I would like to salute the commitment of all the firefighters who have been very busy“, declared on France Bleu Loire Océan this Thursday morning Fabrice Rigoulet-Roze, prefect of Loire-Atlantique.
A senior residence was evacuated in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. Some 90 elderly people had to be taken out of their homes urgently because the water rose nearly 60 centimeters. “The drainage systems had been cleaned a few days before“, explained Fabrice Rigoulet-Roze. “Everyone was fine last night, and we’ll meet them this Thursday at noon for a hot meal“, testified Dorothée Pacaud, mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, who doubts that residents will be able to return to their homes this Thursday evening.
In Pornic, a driver found himself stuck in his cartseriously injured, immersed in a river that had overflowed. Two witnesses, including an off-duty firefighter, witnessed the scene and were able to help him. The victim, unconscious, was taken to Saint-Nazaire hospital. This Thursday morning, she is better and has regained consciousness, informed the prefect of Loire-Atlantique. The water also rose very quickly to Saint-Viaudwhere around thirty children who were at the leisure center had to be evacuated.
HAS Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieuthe Boulogne river has burst its banks. Around ten houses were flooded, the water rose up to 60 cm high.
Many roads cut
This Thursday morning, the Nantes ring road was still closed between Porte de la Beaujoire and Porte de la Chapelle, and will remain closed at least until noon, according to the prefect. In Pornic, water rushed down the sloping streets to the blue road, the dual carriageway was cut this Thursday morning. In theagglomeration of Pornicthere was no school transport, as well as in the communities of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, Machecoul and Ancenis. As for trains, no TER was running this Thursday morning between Pornic and Nantes.
“I call on all listeners to exercise the greatest caution, recalled Fabrice Rigoulet-Roze. Even if we have the impression that we can take a road, if it is blocked, it is for good reasons. Everyone must be aware of not putting themselves in danger, not endangering the security personnel who intervene.”
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