Everybody on the bridge. While the Alpes-Maritimes department expects the heaviest rain since storm Alex this Friday at dawn, the firefighters have announced a significant strengthening of their system.
According to SDIS 06, the “barracks have been reinforced in anticipation of the episode of heavy rain expected this night from 4 a.m.”.
Across the entire department, more than 700 firefighters are mobilized.
Zonal reinforcement activated
They were joined by firefighters from Bouches-du-Rhône and Var as part of the “Zonal reinforcement”.
Rescuers from UIISC 7 of Brignoles were also integrated into the system.
SDIS 06 also announced “an additional air means of civil security”.
Up to 300mm of precipitation expected
Three years after storm Alex, of which they still bear the scars, the Alpes-Maritimes will be on red rain-flood alert on Friday in the face of depression Aline and all schools in the department will remain closed.
This red vigilance is currently planned from 4:00 a.m. Friday and until 10:00 a.m., according to the latest Météo-France bulletin.
During a press conference held at the end of the afternoon, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Hugues Moutouh, announced cumulative precipitation of 200 to 250 mm, with peaks of 300 mm.
These volumes would however be “below” the 500 mm recorded locally during storm Alex.
