Learning from French experiences with storm Xynthia; damages after a flood

Report (2010)
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Copyright: © HKV en Rijkswaterstaat
Flooding Storm surge Xynthia
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Published Date

01-09-2010

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ISBN 978-90-77051-77-1

Abstract

On the 28th of February 2010 at 2 a.m. the storm Xynthia hit the French Atlantic coast. The storm surge combined with the high tide and large waves caused flood defences to fail along the coastline from the Gironde (Bordeaux) to the Loire Estuary. A significant amount of land, (>50 000 ha) was consequently flooded and 47 people died as a result of the storm. Most people died due to the flooding (they drowned, were exhausted or died from hypothermia). A number of people died as a result of the storm itself (storm debris). The French departments of Vendée and Charente Maritime suffered the most. Some parts of the departments Gironde and Loire Atlantique were also flooded. Since 1953 the Netherlands has not had any experience with major floods. Large parts of the Netherlands are also prone to coastal flooding, even though we have very high safety standards. The Netherlands can learn from this flood in a neighbouring country with a common history and legal system. The foundation of the legal system in the Netherlands and France was laid down in the Napoleonic period with the introduction of the book on common law. Jurisprudence plays a minor role in Napoleonic law. The flood was not caused by natural phenomena alone, organisational failure plays a large role in understanding the flood. This book describes the Xynthia storm and its consequences. Using multiple viewpoints of the “multy-layer safety”: flood warning, flood prevention, special planning and disaster management, this book gives lessons from the storm for the Netherlands. Please note: We have used all available public sources up to the beginning of August 2010. The official facts about the storm have been assembled in three French public enquiries, by each house of parliament and by the French ministry of Ecology, Energy Transport and Development MEEDEM. Our purpose is to give lessons for the Netherlands and not to give a perfect list of facts about the storm. The Dutch, French and English versions differ slightly. Some background information has been added in each language.