rehousing costs will be “covered” for the victims, announces Bruno Le Maire

The Minister of the Economy also declared on Monday “to triple the number of experts in the field” to accelerate the rate of expertise in the department.

The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, calling on insurers not to “pinailler”announced, Monday, December 20, that the rehousing costs of “several thousands” victims would be “at the expense of the State and insurers” for six months after historic floods in Pas-de-Calais.

“The amendment to the law on natural disasters” allowing this support will be advanced to “End of november”, affirmed the minister in Saint-Omer, after an exchange with local players and representatives of the insurance sector. Moreover “we are going to triple the number of experts on the ground, with one objective: by December 4, all the necessary expertise” have been carried out and “compensation can arrive as quickly as possible.”

Nearly 6,000 homes affected

Furthermore, he promised “a significant advance” for all victims “as soon as the expertise is carried out”. He recalled that companies could “benefit from partial activity” And “deferral of social or tax charges”. The floods, which have left five people injured since November 6, have affected 6,000 homes, 160 businesses, 130 businesses and 53 farms according to the prefecture. The minister also asked insurers not to “nitpick”.

“What I call nitpicking is constantly asking for additional expertise even though we can clearly see that the situation is dramatic,” launched the Minister of the Economy during a tight microphone. “If you are a resident of a house on the ground floor which has been flooded, and your kitchen has been damaged in the cupboards, you should not be told that we will reimburse you for the lower cupboards because the upper cupboards have not been touched I call that nitpicking, it is not acceptable”he estimated.