57 people evacuated to the Epte residence and the IME

Thursday 09th January 2025 01:31 PM

Par

Marie-Géraldine Dartois

Published on

Jan 9, 2025 at 3:36 p.m.

Following the heavy rain and the melting of the snowthe river Epte has risen from its bed in the country of Bray. A crue unpublished for over 30 years.

The rising water levels had a particular impact on Gournay-en-Bray (Seine-Maritime) and the Epte residence where elderly people live as well as the nearby nursing home welcoming disabled people.

The RN31 is closed near the Europe zone, as well as near avenue de la gare and route Neuve.

Météo France places the department on orange alert for floods on the section of the Epte. Overflows are in progress and will continue over the next 24 hours along the entire section.

40 mm of water in a few hours

Precipitation peaks of more than 40 mm were recorded, while the rest of the department received between 20 and 30 mm over the last 24 hours, notes the Seine-Maritime prefecture.

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Following heavy rains, the Epte overflowed its banks, causing flooding. Here, rue Boucault covered with more than 50 cm of water. ©MG Dartois/l’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

57 people evacuated

The residents of these two establishments were evacuated, a total of 57 people (36 for the Epte residence and 21 at the IME) found refuge either in the center of Gournay-en-Bray at the Montmorency residence, or in a medical-educational institute (IME) nearby.

Impressive image of the water level on rue Boucault in Gournay-en-Bray. ©MG-Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

As the Epte continues to rise, the Gournay-en-Bray sector risks being impacted again. Rue Boucault is also cut off.

In an exceptional situation, an exceptional response. A crisis unit was set up by the town hall in collaboration with SDIS 76.

Emergency situation

With 50 centimeters of water on rue Boucault at the foot of the residence, the elderly found themselves isolated.

While waiting for help, the residents of Epte were gathered in the common room in Gournay-en-Bray. ©MG-Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

The firefighters took as a base for their equipment the commercial area facing Rue Boucault in Gournay-en-Bray ©MG Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

All-terrain vehicles and boats

15 firefighters were dispatched to the scene as well as 5 vehicles. “We have introduced all-terrain vehicles for able-bodied people. For 7 people with reduced mobility, we have boats to transport them stably to the non-flooded area” explains the communications representative of the Sdis 76.

People with reduced mobility were evacuated on boats by the Seine-Maritime firefighters, following the flooding of the Epte in Gournay-en-Bray. ©MG Dartois/L’Eclaireaur-la Dépêche

All services on alert

Since early this Thursday, January 9, all of the town’s services have been on deck to prepare for the evacuation of disaster victims and bring people to safety at the Montmorency residence.

CCAS agents and administrative staff are working to rehouse residents. They contacted families to find out whether or not they could come and pick up their parents in Montmorency.

On site to help evacuate the victims, Eric Picard explains:

Evacuating them was a priority. Some people’s health requires regular care.

The able-bodied people of the Epte residence were evacuated using all-terrain vehicles. The municipal administrative service agents came to help their colleagues evacuate the residents. ©MG Dartois/L’Eclaireur-La Dépêche

“This morning when I arrived, the water level rose very quickly. I quickly found myself with water up to my mid-thigh,” explains the chosen one.

Once residents are brought to safety, technical services will come into action. “They will intervene to raise the furniture in case water enters their homes,” notes Franck Leroux.

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