French Government Launches Swift Response to Devastating Floods from Storm Pedro

Western France continues to grapple with severe flooding caused by Storm Pedro, a situation worsened by an unprecedented 35 consecutive days of rainfall—the longest since 1959. As of February 20, five departments including Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Charente-Maritime, Loire-Atlantique, and Maine-et-Loire remain under red flood alert, with Météo-France warning of marine submersions and waves reaching up to 10 meters on the Aquitaine coast.

Recognizing the critical and ongoing nature of the floods, the French government has declared a "total mobilization." On February 24, an inter-ministerial commission for natural disasters will convene earlier than usual to examine the initial indemnification claims from municipalities along key river valleys such as the Charente, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde, Loire, and Maine. Economy Minister Roland Lescure is scheduled to meet with insurers to ensure rapid compensation for affected residents.

Locally, cities like Angers face historic flood levels, prompting the mayor, Christophe Béchu, to manage crisis response efforts including evacuations of vulnerable groups like seniors. The floods are also impacting ongoing municipal activities, including Béchu’s re-election campaign.

The Ministry of Ecological Transition has stressed that the current flood episode is far from over, with half of France’s river network under vigilance. Storm Pedro follows earlier flooding incidents dating back to winter 2023 and summer 2024, underscoring concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of such events linked to climate change.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has warned drivers about dangerous conditions on key highways A9, A61, and A62. He urged extreme caution as even shallow flooding can cause hazardous travel, further complicated by heavy traffic during school holiday periods.

Authorities continue to emphasize strict adherence to safety instructions while promising swift governmental support and compensation to affected communities to mitigate the natural disaster's impact.