And with global warming, this is just the beginning. In 2022, in France, the damage caused by natural disasters should cost 10 billion euros, France Assureurs estimated on Thursday. A record since 1999, underlines the federation of insurers, due to “the intensification of extreme climatic phenomena” and an “increase in their frequency”.
The year 2022 “on the front of climatic events is truly the annus horribilis”, detailed Florence Lustman, president of France Assureurs questioned on European 1listing the numerous episodes of hailstorms, storms, floods and “an equally exceptional year on the drought front”.
Forest fires salt the bill
In detail, the episodes of hail and storms between May and July cost 6.4 billion euros, the federation told AFP. Added to this are the effects of the drought, particularly on individual houses, for an envelope close to 2.5 billion euros.
In France, approximately 54% of single-family homes are located in areas with medium or high exposure to withdrawal-swelling of clay soils (RGA), a phenomenon linked to the succession of episodes of drought in summer and re-wetting of the soil in autumn or winter which can cause significant damage. Some 3.3 million homes, or about 16% of the total, are even located in high risk areas.
Losses observed on harvests, floods and episodes of forest fires during the summer complete the picture.
This amount for 2022 marks a significant increase compared to the period 2017-2021. These climatic phenomena cost an average of 3.5 billion euros per year over the period. The year 2022 is also the worst year since 1999, marked by storms Lothar and Martin.