A week after the deadly weather in the Aude, the head of state spends the day of Monday, October 22 in the department.

A day on the spot. Emmanuel Macron will spend this Monday, October 22, 2018 in the Aude, with local residents, local officials and emergency services, a week after the floods caused by torrential rains - the worst locally since 1891 - which killed 14 people and more than 70 wounded in the Aude. Remember that the department received in the space of a few hours the equivalent of three months of rain.

A symbolic visit, as hundreds of people are devastated, their homes devastated, roads are disemboweled, villages ravaged. In the 126 most affected municipalities, the state has recognized the state of natural disaster, so that insurers compensate faster victims.

About 200 million euros of damage

The material damage represents "of the order of 200 million euros, especially for homes and vehicles," said Sunday the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire.

Prime Minister Philippe Philippe had visited the site last Monday. Emmanuel Macron had for his part expressed "the emotion and solidarity of the nation" and announced that he would go there "as soon as possible" without hindering the relief.

Because of this disaster, the Head of State had shifted by one day the announcement of the government reshuffle that saw Christophe Castaner appointed Minister of the Interior.

Villalier and Trèbes

During his visit, the head of state is expected Monday morning in the small town of Villalier (1,000 inhabitants), northeast of Carcassonne, one of the worst affected by floods, where two people died .

He will meet the families of the victims as well as mayors of the affected communities, then visit a neighborhood of the village.

He must then go to Trèbes, 20 km away, where 6 people died during the flood. He planned to lunch there with the actors involved in relief and then to publicly address the relief forces.

Édouard Philippe had gone to Villegailhenc (1,600 inhabitants), where two people died.

"A strong gesture of the state"

"We are waiting for a strong gesture from the state with financial commitments," hoped Saturday the chairman of the departmental council Andre Viola.

Of the 126 communes for which the state of natural disaster was recognized, "122 are rural. If there is no strong solidarity, they will not recover , "he predicted, pleading for " flexibility " for administrative procedures, including the payment of advances to municipalities.

The departmental council of the Aude must vote Monday 37 million euros of additional funds to help the victims and begin the first renovation work.

The Occitan Region has announced an investment plan of 25 million euros, which will be voted on 16 November.

This extreme meteorological episode occurred during one of October's hottest months, marked by drought in much of France, summer temperatures in Paris and devastating waterspouts in the south.