French government website helps check and manage risks where you live

French government risk assessment website, Géorisques, helps warn people about natural, technological and mining hazards and can be helpful for those buying and selling property. 

It is also a handy tool for people visiting or living in France, with users able to enter their address into the system to find a list of any major risks in their local area or commune. This list can also be downloaded as a PDF report. 

Any ongoing Météo-France weather warnings are also included on the Géorisques platform. 

How does it work?

Users can either search a specific address, or use an interactive map to identify a general area. 

Selecting a location will generate a series of search results with coloured labels ranging from green (no/low risk) to red (ongoing/existing risk). 

Users can then click on Accéder aux informations détaillées (Access detailed information) for further details on each search result, including a definition of the risk and any history of similar recorded events. 

Natural risks include floods (inondation), rising water levels (remontée de nappe), hurricane (cyclone), earthquakes (séisme), forest fires (feu de forêt) and avalanches.

Technological risks can include ground pollution (pollution des sols), transportation pipelines for hazardous materials (canalisations de transport de matières dangereuses), burst dams (rupture de barrage) and nuclear accidents (accident nucléaire). 

People can also subscribe to the Géorisques digital newsletter to receive updates of any risks straight to their inbox.  

What can it be used for?

As well as identifying risks, the platform aims to explain what public authorities are doing to tackle different issues, and how individuals can take control of their own safety. 

The tab titled Me préparer, me protéger (Prepare myself, protect myself) features information such as what to include in a 72-hour emergency kit, how to carry out compulsory undergrowth clearance, and advice for reducing a building’s vulnerability to flooding and radon (radioactive gas). 

Users can also check whether they are eligible for financial support to carry out improvement works on a property that is exposed to a major risk.

Furthermore, a law dating back to July 30, 2003, made it compulsory to inform buyers and tenants of a property about certain major risks to which that property is exposed.

Géorisques defines a major risk as involving a high number of casualties, significant material damage and major environmental impacts. 

This assessment can be done via the Géorisques website by clicking on the Errial tab or by downloading and filling out the état des risques (risk disclosure statement).

“Failure to comply with these obligations may result in the cancellation of the contract or a reduction in the price [sale or rent],” reads the website.