Insurance help for Var flood victims

INSURERS have extended the deadline for homeowners in the Var to declare damage from this week's deadly floods - and have promised to speed up the payout process.

GEMA - which represents most of the major firms including Macif, Maaf, GMF and Matmut - said its members would accept claims until July 31.

Normally contracts require claims to be lodged with five to ten days. Declarations can be made by phone, letter or in branch.

Payouts will be made within 15 days of the insurer receiving the necessary paperwork including receipts or quotes for work.

Families whose homes are uninhabitable will have their rehousing costs paid by insurers for up to six months.

At least 25 people died this week in the worst floods to hit the Var since 1827.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux has announced a €1m aid package for affected families.
A decree classifying the area as a "natural disaster" zone for insurance purposes will be published within days and Nicolas Sarkozy will visit the region next week.

Some 13 people are still reported missing and 2,000 are staying in emergency shelters. Thousands of homes are without electricity, telephone or clean water.

Schools around Draguignan remain closed, although yesterday's first exam in the baccalauréat went ahead as usual with only two students out of 1,500 unable to attend.

A number of local residents have blamed the mairie and préfecture for not doing enough to warn them about the oncoming flood.

A town hall spokesman told Le Figaro: "By the time we were aware of the seriousness of the situation, it was unfortunately too late to react because our means of communication had broken down."

Related stories:
25 dead in Var flooding disasterStorm damage: how to claim insurance
Photo above and below: Twitpics - Jipay