France to offer relief funds to victims of storms Eunice and Franklin
Departments in the north of France were battered by two consecutive storms last weekend, leading to the death of a couple and leaving six people seriously injured
Two consecutive storms last weekend battered France’s northern coastline
Sasha Samardzija / Shutterstock
France is to offer special emergency funds to victims of the storms Eunice and Franklin, which struck the country’s northern coast between February 18 and 21.
The departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Seine-Maritime and Manche were particularly badly affected by the storms.
Eunice, which hit first, led to six people being seriously injured. Franklin claimed the lives of a couple in their 70s, who were carried away by currents in the Manche.
Read more:Two dead after Storms Eunice and Franklin hit France
Read more:Power cuts, injuries: Storm Eunice batters northern France
France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the relief fund yesterday (February 22) in a press release.
“At the request of the President of the Republic and in order to express national solidarity with the victims of storms Eunice and Franklin, we are allocating resources from the extreme emergency relief fund [to victims] in the affected departments, on an exceptional basis,” Mr Darmanin stated.
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The fund is “intended for individuals and families placed in a situation of great difficulty”, the press release states.
It will “enable people in need following the passage of the storms to obtain basic necessities, in addition to the assistance provided by the local authorities”.
Further details on how victims can claim the funds and how much they can receive have yet to be announced.
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The announcement of the emergency fund comes after Mr Darmanin said that the storms will be classified as a natural disaster so that people can claim for damage to their property using the assurance catastrophe naturelle clause.
Read our guide to assurance catastrophe naturelle here: France’s ‘catastrophe naturelle’ insurance system: how to claim
Read more:France to declare ‘natural disaster’ for area hit by Storm Eunice
Mr Darmanin also promised resources to local authorities to help repair damages to public facilities.
If you have been affected by storms Eunice and Franklin and wish to speak about your experience, let us know at news@connexionfrance.com
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