Since Tuesday November 7, 2023, Pas-de-Calais has suffered a series of torrential rains and flooding of worrying magnitude. The situation led to the closure of educational establishments on Monday November 13 and Tuesday November 14, 2023 in 279 municipalities in the department, according to the announcement from the Pas-de-Calais prefecture, reported by The Parisian. Closures affect a wide range of establishmentsincluding nurseries [sauf les crèches hospitalières, ndlr], nursery schools, primary schools, middle schools and high schools. Although teaching is not assured, these establishments remain open to welcome students when necessary, particularly for parents without a childcare solution. The critical situation concerns more than 250 municipalities. Some of them, like Saint-Omer and Montreuil, are experiencing dramatic conditions. Despite a period of 48 hours of calm and the gradual decline of rivers, Pas-de-Calais remains on alert due to the expected return of bad weather at the end of the afternoon on Sunday November 12, 2023, raising fears of a new difficult episode.
Local authorities remain on alert
The prefecture has also announced that the department will be on yellow alert for the risks of rain, flooding, violent winds and waves-submersion on Monday November 13, 2023. According to forecasts Meteo Franceprecipitation of the order of “5 to 10 mm” are expected on Sunday November 12, 2023, followed by “15 mm during the night from Sunday to Monday November 13, 2023, 15 mm during the day Monday and 10 mm in the coastal basins on Tuesday.” The seriousness of the situation is underlined by the fact that even after 48 hours of calm, local authorities prepare for another peak in precipitation. Franck Dhersin, senator and vice-president of the regional council, underlinedAFP Saturday November 11 “10,000 victims” are already recorded, with some houses experiencing water stagnation for ten days, permeating the walls. The responsiveness of local authorities remains crucial in dealing with this persistent weather crisis.