The state of natural disaster has just been recognized in nearly 380 municipalities after the floods that occurred in October.
But this is not at all the case for the town of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) which was affected last winter.
Residents do not understand why they are excluded from the system.
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We met Geneviève last March, when the inhabitants of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) were experiencing new floods. Water had invaded his garden and threatened his boiler. “It’s gone up to this point,” she shows the TF1 cameras in the report at the top of this article. “We have to act!” An emergency repair that we filmed. “I’m in the process of dismantling the burner of the oil boiler because the problem is that it’s been leaking water twice,” explained the plumber. “It’s amounts to more than 4,000 euros.” “As I did this action as a preventative measure, it is not covered by insurance,” deplores Geneviève. But above all she fears that she will no longer be insured: “If we have too many incidents, too many statements, they can write us off.”
In February-March, the water did not enter the houses. But for three weeks, it had changed the lives of its inhabitants and caused other less visible damage. “The humidity has seeped in, so all the plastering is good to redo, it has turned green… So we still have a lot of work left”testifies a resident. “It is important for us to have this recognition of the state of natural disaster at the insurance level because it also allows us to release greater funds to enable us to cover our damage costs. And it also allows to have support at the town hall level.”
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Flooded four times in a few months, the mayor does not understand why, this time, the state of natural disaster is not recognized. “The flood peak was 5.54 m in November-December. In February-March 24, it was 5.53 m”observes Bruno Drapron. To the nearest centimeter, the state of natural disaster is not recognized. “That’s what is incomprehensible. And if you are recognized as a natural disaster, it is because the State considers that you have experienced something important on your territory. There, we have the impression that Saintes is being swept away of the map of France, that it is no longer a problem.”
The mayor will file an appeal with the Charente-Maritime prefecture. Last winter’s floods cost the town more than a million euros.
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