Overview
- The tornado struck Pomas on Monday, August 24, ripping off roofs, shattering windows and overturning vehicles across the village.
- Local officials say about 387 of 476 houses — roughly 80% of the village — were damaged, with the sous-préfète reporting around 80 homes as uninhabitable while the mayor gives a lower figure of 35.
- About 48 people were injured and roughly 20 were hospitalized after the storm, and there were no reported deaths.
- The village school was badly damaged so classes were moved to a converted centre aéré at La Bastide de Couffoulens and a psychosocial support unit for children and families has been set up.
- Authorities have asked the Prime Minister to declare a catastrophe naturelle, have escalated needs to the national level, and are forming a state-local steering committee to coordinate a reconstruction expected to take years.