France Declares Natural Disaster Zones After October Floods

Nearly 400 towns across 11 departments are designated disaster areas, opening the way for insurance compensation following unprecedented flooding.

A decree published in the Official Journal has recognized 380 municipalities as natural disaster zones due to severe flooding from October 16 to 20, 2024.
The affected regions include Ardèche, Rhône, Loire, Alpes-Maritimes, Yvelines, Essonne, Lozère, Loire-Atlantique, Eure-et-Loir, Haute-Loire, and Corrèze.
The floods, described as the most intense in over a century, led to the evacuation of over a thousand residents and widespread infrastructure disruptions.
The French government estimates the cost of damages to be between €350 million and €420 million, with insurance claims to be processed over the next three months.
Officials link the increase in extreme weather events to climate change, prompting a national consultation on a new adaptation plan to address global warming impacts.