Following historic floods in France, authorities have organized unusual transport for students returning to school after the winter break. In the hardest-hit communes of Charente-Maritime, children are commuting to lessons in military trucks. Residents in many towns in the Loire and Sarthe valleys are beginning initial cleanup, though water remains in homes at a height of 1.40 meters. Some families, exhausted by recurring floods, are considering leaving their homes.

Military Transport for Students

The Gendarmerie is using trucks to transport children to schools in flooded communes, which became a source of amusement for them during the return to learning.

Historic Flooding in the Loire Basin

Water levels in some towns reached unprecedented heights, flooding homes up to 1.40 meters in places, which is considered a historic event.

Start of Cleanup Work

With the slow receding of water, initial cleanup actions are beginning, but water-saturated ground is slowing the process of complete terrain drying.

Exhaustion and Relocation Decisions

Many residents, tired of regular floods, are considering leaving their homes, and local officials are warning about the catastrophic state of local infrastructure.

The French Gendarmerie has organized unusual transport for students returning to school after the winter break in areas affected by historic floods. In some towns of the Charente-Maritime department, where roads remain impassable, children and teenagers are commuting to lessons in military trucks. „„Ça les a bien fait rigoler !”” — Le Parisien Floods and inundations have been a problem for centuries for residents of the valleys of France's great rivers, including the Loire, often called the 'last wild river of Europe' due to its poorly regulated course. In the 20th century, forecasting systems and flood defenses were introduced, but increasing development of floodplains has heightened the risk of damage.The floods in some regions have reached proportions described as historic. According to reports from Cheffes-sur-Sarthe in the Maine-et-Loire department, water entered homes to a height of 1.40 meters. Bruno Drapron, the mayor of the city of Saintes in Charente-Maritime, did not hide his despair in assessing the situation. „„C'est un enfer”” — Bruno Drapron1,4 m — Water level in homes in Cheffes-sur-SartheEvolution of the Flood Situation: February 21 — Evacuations and Thefts; February 22 — Peak of the Flood Wave; February 23 — Beginning of Return to NormalityWith the slow start of the décrue process, meaning the receding of waters, initial cleanup work has begun in some towns, such as Couthures-sur-Garonne. However, this requires significant time and effort from local communities. The process is further complicated by the complete saturation of the ground with water, meaning a return to normality could take weeks. The situation is exacerbated by the mental and physical exhaustion of residents, especially those whose homes are regularly hit by floods. Many of them, according to press reports, are beginning to consider leaving their homes entirely. An additional problem is limited access to basic services, such as medical care. Liberal Nurses reported serious difficulties reaching patients in flooded villages, threatening continuity of treatment. Reports of thefts in evacuated homes forced law enforcement to increase patrols, also using boats.Flood Effects in Selected Departments: Water height in homes: Normal state → Up to 1.4 m in Cheffes-sur-Sarthe; Access to schools: Bus/private transport → Transport by military trucks; Residents' condition: Daily life → Exhaustion, considering leaving homesThe crisis has affected many departments in western France, including Lot-et-Garonne, where the situation is varied – while some residents can already return home, others are still cut off or have partially flooded homes. Authorities and rescue services continue actions aimed at restoring basic infrastructure and providing humanitarian aid to the most affected.

Mentioned People

  • Bruno Drapron — Mayor of the city of Saintes, which was severely affected by the floods.