Updated 11/11/2023
After exceptional rainfall accumulations occurring since Thursday afternoon (50 to 60 mm fell in the west of Pas-de-Calais, or very locally 70 to 80 mm over the last 24 hours), Pas-de-Calais experienced a lull in precipitation last night. The department nevertheless remains placed on yellow rain-flood vigilance.
As a result of the heavy rainfall during the day on Friday, river levels rose sharply again, leading to new road closures this night and numerous evacuations of homes in several municipalities in Montreuillois and Audomarois. The Aa basin remains on red flood alert. La Liane, la Canche, La Hem, la Lys-Amont, la Lys-Plaine and la Lawe Clarence are also still classified as orange vigilant.
The prefect therefore calls on the inhabitants of Pas-de-Calais to remain extremely vigilant. The tension continues with the floods. Areas that have not yet experienced flooding and overflows could also be impacted. The rains have stopped for the moment but some rivers continue to grow.
Review at 12 p.m. :
- A crisis unit is activated 24 hours a day at the Pas-de-Calais prefecture, under the authority of the prefect, to direct relief operations.
- 247 municipalities are still affected by flooding (nearly a quarter of the municipalities in the department, 65 municipalities for the district of Saint-Omer, 62 for the district of Boulogne, 83 for the district of Montreuil, 10 for the district of Béthune and 27 for the district of Calais).
- 700 civil security personnel are engaged on the ground: SDIS firefighters Departmental fire and rescue service benefit from the support of zonal and national reinforcements with aquatic and pumping resources.
- Since the beginning of the episode (November 2, 2023)1,683 interventions and 940 Evacuations were carried out by firefighters.
- 4 slight injuries were recorded (no additional injuries were recorded compared to the last report).
- 7,200 people experience restrictions on water use in several communities located in the Samer and Doudeauville sectors. Several tanks are installed in Samer, an interconnection has been set up in Doudeauville to maintain access to water.
- 550 homes are deprived of electricity 350 in Boulonnais and 200 in Audomarois.
- 130 main roads are cut.
- Thanks to the decisive action of the firefighters, 450 cattle were rescued yesterday in two districts of the Montreuil district.
- They proceeded last night (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) to 116 interventions (reconnaissance visits, pumping, clearing, etc.) and 286 evacuations. Among the notable interventions of the night: 85 people evacuated in Blendecques (district of Saint-Omer) to a municipal hall, 45 people evacuated to Wavran-sur-l’Aa (district of Saint Omer) and 4 evacuations in Estrée-Blanche (Béthunois) to a municipal hall.
Measures implemented
- Implementation of pumps: large capacity pumps are deployed in Calais (Battellerie quay), Cuinchy, Arques (Haut Meldyck dyke), Ardres and Guines.
- Comfort and monitoring of the Estrée dike : work to strengthen the dike at Recques-sur-course, Estrée and Estréelles (Montreuil sector) was suspended due to rising water levels. They should resume at the beginning of the afternoon.
- Mobilization of firefighters and FSI in contact with our fellow citizens : LThe prefect asked the police, gendarmes and firefighters to be in constant contact with the affected people. Door to door is currently carried out by the services. Particular attention is also given to homes that are not occupied to avoid theft.
- Taking into account vulnerable people : a census of vulnerable people is carried out in conjunction with elected officials. Particular attention is paid to isolated elderly people. 28 of them were taken care of by the ARS in dedicated accommodation.
Help for disaster victims
- For elected officials – accelerated natural disaster recognition procedure
At the request of the Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories and the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, a “natural disaster” commission under accelerated procedure will meet on November 14, 2023, in order to process requests for recognition of the state of natural disaster of the municipalities impacted by recent floods. Municipalities were invited to submit their requests. 118 municipalities have already submitted a file. Deposit procedures are available on the prefecture website: https://www.pas-de-calais.gouv.fr/.
- For businesses
To meet the needs of companies heavily impacted by bad weather, the DDETS of Pas-de-Calais has set up, at the request of the prefect, a crisis unit to answer questions from companies concerning the use of partial activity or the possibilities of derogation from working time. The information is available in the appendix and on the website of the Pas-de-Calais prefecture.
- For agricultural operations
At the request of the prefect, a unit dedicated to agricultural issues is set up in the department. It constitutes a one-stop shop to answer questions from farmers and agri-food professionals. This “agricultural” unit mobilizes the services of the DDTMdepartmental direction of sea territories and the DDPPDepartmental Directorate for Population Protection, each in their area of expertise. She will also be in contact with the unit led by the DDETS on issues related to salaried employment.
The one-stop shop has been operational since this Friday, November 10 and accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 03 21 22 98 20. An email address: [email protected] is also open to collect questions or requests.
Documents relating to the recognition in a state of natural disaster of municipalities impacted by floods