Hundreds of extra French communes recognised as ‘natural disaster’ zones
The recognition unlocks insurance compensation for homes affected by droughts and flooding
More households in France can now access insurance cover following this recognition
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A new decree has recognised 221 additional communes as ‘natural disaster’ zones, allowing residents to claim compensation from their insurers.
The Journal Officiel issued the announcement on May 14, adding the communes to the existing list of those that have experienced periods of drought and flooding, thereby placing them within the natural disaster range.
Policyholders in affected areas have 30 days from the publication of the decree to report damage to their insurer.
The system of recognition has been in place since 1982 and assesses communes, on a case-by-case basis, to determine whether they qualify for recognition as a natural disaster zone. If they do, homeowners are allowed to claim compensation for damage to their homes linked to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and cyclonic winds.
Once recognised, this confirms that the communes concerned have experienced significant weather events of this nature.
The new additions result principally from episodes of drought and flooding that took place in 2025 and early 2026, allowing the public reinsurer to cover damages alongside insurance companies.
The decree states that the communes were examined “for damage caused by wave impact, floods and mudslides, groundwater flooding, landslides, earthquakes, cyclonic winds, and differential ground movements resulting from drought and soil rehydration.” This latter phenomenon, known as ‘shrinkage–swelling’ of clay soils, can lead to serious structural damage following alternating drought and heavy rainfall.
The compensation process can only begin once the commune has been officially listed in the Journal Officiel.
The communes belong to 46 different departments throughout France, ranging from Morbihan to Dordogne, through to Nord, Aude and Ardèche. Examples include Bourges and Vierzon (Cher), and Le Mans and La Flèche (Sarthe) which are affected due to floods that occured in February.
Nearly 300 communes had requested recognition following major floods in western France earlier in the year.
A separate decree published in early April also recognised more than 200 additional communes. That decree similarly opened access to insurance compensation under the ‘catastrophe naturelle’ scheme.
To find out whether your area now belongs to the natural disaster zone, visit the complete list available online and search the list using CTRL + F to type in the name of your commune.
