“The damage is considerable. We cannot even quantify it today,” laments Philippe Hourdain, Tuesday November 14 on franceinfo.
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According to Philippe Hourdain, president of the Hauts-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), approximately “300 companies” were affected by flooding in the region. Among these companies “many VSEs, small and medium-sized companies, but also some large companies”he indicates, in particular the SIB printing company, “a very large printing press with presses. All of this has considerable impacts”he added.
Emmanuel Macron, who visited the site, announced an initial envelope of 50 million euros in support funds and confirmed the state of natural disaster for 244 municipalities, including 214 in Pas-de-Calais. “The visit of the President of the Republic shows that we are all behind the victims,” believes Philippe Hourdain. “Companies that have employees are in a very difficult psychological state”he stressed. “The 50 million, of course, will be a first aid. We still need to have a methodology to spend them,” he pointed out.
For the president of the CCI, this envelope is only a first step: “It’s never enough, but it’s already 50 million. It already shows that the victims are not alone”he said. “The damage is considerable. We cannot even quantify it today“, he assured.