In the aftermath of Storm Leslie, which struck Monaco and the south of France in mid-October, the French government has declared a state of natural disaster in 32 towns and cities across the Alpes-Maritimes.
Storm Leslie arrived on the Côte d’Azur with enormous force in mid-October, beginning 16th October. Rainfall totals in the Alpes-Maritimes’ western and mountain areas saw averages of over 100mm, with one village, Caussols, recording a terrifying 311mm.
As a result of the deluge and the damage it caused to property and infrastructure, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes issued an interministerial decree in the Official Journal of the French Republic, published on 5th November, recognising 32 towns and cities in the department as natural disaster areas.
Specifically, the decree “recognises the state of natural disaster for Storm Leslie for the period 16th October to 20th October 2024 for the phenomenon of ‘floods and mudslides,’ which includes overflowing watercourses, runoff and torrential floods”.
The list, which includes Nice, Grasse, Vence and Mandelieu-La Napoule, as well as smaller communes in the area, has been compiled to allow victims of the storm to file estimated loss statements with their insurance companies, who must compensate the policyholders under France’s Law 82-600.
Any community that requires, but has not yet filed, for natural disaster status is being asked to do so within 24 months.
For a full list of the communes covered by the recent ruling, click here.
To read the decree in full, click here.
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Photo source: Département des Alpes-Maritimes