294 French communes classified as natural disaster zones following flooding

Hundreds of communes affected by flooding have been fast-tracked onto the natural disaster (catastrophe naturelle) list in France, allowing insurance claims processes to begin. 

In total, 294 communes have been added to the list, with a further 77 to be examined in the coming weeks. 

Communes in the Aveyron, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Maine-et-Loire and Tarn-et-Garonne departments have been included.

A full list can be found in the Journal Officiel here. Use the ctrl + f function on your web browser to search for your commune name. 

Communes added following floods 

Communes that have suffered after a natural weather event that led to property damage (flooding, wildfires, droughts causing cracks in homes etc) can ask to be put on the catastrophe naturelle list, with mairies responsible for doing so.

They must usually provide proof of the damage, and can ask residents to add their own evidence, such as photos and videos of property damage from the event. 

This is then reviewed by a government commission to see if the status is justified. 

This can take several weeks, however with certain severe events the government can fast-track claims to place communes on the list at a faster pace, usually through the direct intervention of ministers.

For example, communes directly affected by the recent flooding were promised to be included in the list following a visit by Minister for Ecological Transition Monique Barbut. 

Why is it important? 

Insurance claims for properties damaged during these natural weather events must make claims through the catastrophe naturelle process and not through standard claims. 

Natural disaster coverage is included in almost all home insurance policies (assurance multirisques habitation), and insurers cannot refuse you if you ask for it to be added to your policy. 

Payouts for natural disaster damage come from a separate fund to standard claims, backed by the government and insurers.

Once a commune is identified as a catastrophe naturelle zone, homeowners have 30 days to file a claim with their insurer. This applies to both main and second homes.

This can be done online, but it is usually best to do it physically by sending a registered letter (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception) to your insurer. 

The letter should include: 

• Your full name and address

• Insurance contract number

• Description of the event and what happened (nature, date, time, place)

• A list of all lost or damaged objects, with documents proving the existence and value of the goods (e.g. invoices, photographs)

• Damage to third parties (e.g. if a tree on your property has fallen and caused damage to a neighbour's house)

It can also help to include photographic evidence of the wider damage to the property, and to keep damaged items so insurance companies can physically see what has happened. 

If repairing part of the damage yourself, you should keep all invoices for items, goods, and work to forward onto your insurer.

Claims should then be paid out within three months, as stipulated in catastrophe naturelle regulations.

More information is available in our article here.

Note that storm damage sometimes falls under separate policies, with a lightning certificate (certificat d’intempéries) from state forecaster Météo France required. Information on storm claims is available in our article here.