Lionel Gougelot // Photo credit: DENIS CHARLET / AFP 11:59 a.m., March 12, 2024

In Pas-de-Calais, the months follow one another and are similar.

Since the beginning of last autumn, floods have increased in the department.

For the third time, Gabriel Attal went to the victims.

Despite the promises of the head of government, resignation reigns near Boulogne-sur-Mer. 

More water... With the high tides, on the Atlantic coast and the English Channel, the waterways of Pas-de-Calais swell with water again.

The victims can't take it anymore.

A fed-up that Gabriel Attal tried to appease Monday afternoon during his third visit to the site.

The Prime Minister announced that payment deadlines for insurers will be halved as well as an additional 10 million euros which will be released for the reconstruction of public facilities.

Gabriel Attal promises, the projects will be monitored by a delegated prefect.

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“It’s anxiety-inducing”

But on the side of the victims, the watchword is resignation.

In Saint-Étienne-au-mont, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, Annie has not heard from her insurance since November 2023. She has therefore resigned herself to undertaking the renovation work on her house herself, drowned this fall under 70 centimeters of water.

“I am a family assistant, I do not want to put the children in a pitiful house, so I react as best I can with my husband,” she explains to the microphone of Europe 1. “We have advanced almost 10,000 euros. It's anxiety-inducing and we can say that we're surviving. Since November, we've been surviving," she regrets. 

Thinking about moving

In this district, Gabriel Attal promised that work will be carried out quickly to prevent future overflows of the Liane.

André and Amélie hope that the commitments will be kept.

“All the ministers are always listening. Afterwards, we will see the actions and the feedback,” André is wary.

“In any case, we can only hope because we have to rebuild, but we would like to live in good conditions with our family and raise our children peacefully,” adds Amélie. 

But the trauma of the floods is such that some are already thinking of leaving the neighborhood permanently.

“From the slightest drop of water, there is fear. Morale takes a hit. So, if things are not going well morally, then we have to leave,” saddens a resident of the town.

A difficult decision to make, provided you simply have the means.