Western France Floods Prompt 270 Municipal Disaster Claims, Over €1 Billion in Repair Costs Expected

Western France continues to grapple with the financial fallout from severe flooding that struck in February 2026, with nearly 270 new municipalities applying for recognition as natural disaster zones to facilitate insurance reimbursements and recovery funding. The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunez, announced these new requests, which will be reviewed by an inter-ministerial committee on March 3 and 10. This follows an earlier wave of 294 communes already designated disaster areas, notably in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Maine-et-Loire.

The exceptional flooding led to a record 14-day red alert, displacing more than 2,300 residents through preventive evacuations, although no casualties were reported due to effective early warning systems. Local officials report overwhelming costs for reconstruction efforts; in Labescau, Gironde, Mayor Denis Espagnet highlighted a single road repair costing €500,000, double the annual municipal budget. Tarn-et-Garonne’s technical council estimates €2.5 to €3 million in damages for just six local roads.

Insurance professionals predict the overall impact, driven largely by storm Nils, will top €1 billion nationwide. The government is responding by doubling the flood prevention budget as part of broader climate adaptation funding, reflecting the urgency to bolster resilience in affected regions.