President Emmanuel Macron announced that approximately 250 municipalities in northern France will be declared in a state of natural disaster due to severe flooding. The regions of Pas-de-Calais and Nord have endured heavy rainfall, river overflow, and subsequent floods, with concerns of water levels rising further in the coming days.
Macron assured that every municipality requesting aid would be granted a state of disaster declaration—around 214 in Pas-de-Calais and approximately 30 in Nord. A 50-million-euro support fund will be allocated by the government to assist the affected towns and villages.
Recent events, including Storm Ciaran on November 2, record river levels on November 7, and continued heavy rain, have compounded the region’s challenges. Pas-de-Calais remains on orange alert for heavy rains and flooding, with all seven rivers in the department at the same alert level. School closures persist in 279 municipalities for the second consecutive day.
Jean-Christophe Castelain, Blendecques’s deputy mayor, expressed concern, noting that around 50 people were still sheltering after 862 homes were impacted by flooding. The situation remains tense, with no positive forecasts for the near future.
Residents like Corinne Baroux emphasized the need for action while volunteering at local shelters. The Red Cross in Pas-de-Calais, led by Fabienne Berquier, is establishing additional shelters near Saint-Omer to aid those affected.
In Nord, 10,000 cases of flood damage and 1,391 evacuations have been reported since November 6. Urgent appeals for food donations and volunteers to distribute essential supplies have been made by the food aid group Les Restos du Coeur.