Money will be released due to the bad weather that has affected the country in recent days. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced Tuesday evening that the “extreme emergency relief fund” would be mobilized “on an exceptional basis”. This is to help the victims of storms Eunice and Franklin, which caused significant damage in the north and north-west of France.
This “direct aid” system is “intended for individuals and families placed in a situation of great difficulty following a disaster”. The aid “will allow people in need following the passage of storms to obtain basic necessities, in addition to the assistance provided by local authorities”, details the Minister.
The departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Seine-Maritime and Manche faced storms Franklin and Eunice 48 hours apart. Eunice seriously injured at least six people, crippled transport and damaged many buildings, including schools. Franklin caused the death of a couple in their seventies, washed away by the waves in the English Channel.
Payment of money before the recognition of the state of natural disaster
Gérald Darmanin already announced on February 18 that “the State will declare a state of natural disaster as soon as possible wherever necessary”. In addition to the “extreme emergency relief fund”, other mechanisms will be mobilized “depending on the nature of the damage observed and the natural phenomena which caused it”, adds the minister. Thus, the damage caused by the violent winds “will be taken care of directly by the insurance companies”, “already mobilized to deal with the influx of claims declarations”, he explains.
Compensation will be possible “without prior recognition of a natural disaster being necessary”, continues the minister. On the contrary, it invites the mayors of the municipalities where damage has been caused by “floods or episodes of marine submersion to file requests for recognition of the state of natural disaster with the prefectures of their department”.
