residents of eleven municipalities united in the face of floods

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In Seine-et-Marne, the recent floods in Coulommiers and the region, following the passage of storm Kirk, have left lasting traces in the Morin valley. During the forum organized at the “C’est déjà ça” cultural café in Mouroux, residents expressed their concern, particularly regarding town planning practices deemed unsuitable.

A new approach to planning

For many participants, it is essential to review our approach to land use planning. This includes adopting sustainable agricultural practices and exploring solutions like creating retention ponds to manage stormwater. However, for the RENARD association, it is important to emphasize that completely eliminating flooding is an impossible task, because there is no water reservoir capable of containing all the volumes involved during a flood. .

“Construction in flood-prone areas is not prohibited, but it must be supervised by precautionary measures, particularly with regard to water flow and personal safety,” underlines the association. “It is also crucial to distinguish one-off problems, such as in Pommeuse, where a housing estate was built on an identified watercourse, despite warnings to elected officials.”

The creation of a Regional Natural Park could prove beneficial by further integrating issues linked to flooding into planning decisions. “Let's take the example of Crécy-en-Brie and Coulommiers, which were urbanized in valley bottoms, due to the demand for water for the tanneries; these municipalities have urbanized in marsh areas.”

Some have expressed concerns about the management of the locks. For associations, it is imperative to make a resolute commitment to land de-artificialization. “Which would involve interrupting the creation of new commercial zones and establishing a moratorium on the construction of road infrastructure, while favoring the renovation of already urbanized areas. It should be noted that France loses between 20,000 and 30,000 hectares of natural spaces essential for water absorption each year.

An alarming reality

The poignant testimonies of residents revealed the devastating impact of climate change on their daily lives. A resident of the hamlet of Coubertin in Mouroux said: “my daughter suffers from asthma and my husband is diabetic. Imagine their state of health in a house filled with humidity. » A couple from Doue recounted their experience of settling into a gîte, forced to flee a house that had become uninhabitable.

For her part, the founder of Vigicrécy described the disastrous state of her beauty care boutique in Crécy-la-Chapelle, making it impossible to carry out her professional activity and the unemployment of her employees, a situation shared by so many other traders and craftsmen. The discussions also highlighted the importance of increased education and awareness on environmental issues, in order to prepare younger generations to meet future challenges. According to the IPCC, in France, the risk of flash and rapid floods caused by torrential rains is expected to increase by 130% by 2050.

Sylvie Chobert, delegate of the mutual insurance and provident insurance company MAIF, presented PrévEntraide, a solidarity and prevention system, particularly in the face of natural risks and climatic events, such as floods, droughts and heatwaves.

Soaring insurance prices

His presentation highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation within the community and the importance of putting in place proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of future disasters. Due to the increase in natural disasters, France Assureurs has indicated that comprehensive home insurance contracts should experience a surge in prices of 8 to 12% after January 1, 2025.

To meet these challenges and strengthen their resilience, a common desire has emerged: create a citizen platform bringing together residents and associations. The associations present also proposed several initiatives aimed at coordinating the efforts of each actor and better meeting the needs of the community. By joining forces, they hope to maximize the impact of their actions and strengthen collective resilience.

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