Before: preparing
According to Civil Protection, when a flood is announced or likely:
- Check the warnings from Météo-France and Vigicrues.
- Shelter in a solid building, upstairs if possible.
- Don't stay near a watercourse.
- Move furniture and valuables upstairs if the expected level justifies it.
- Equip yourself with a battery radio and a flashlight.
- Block water entry points with cloths or boards.
- Park your car in the garage or tie it down to prevent it drifting.
- Build a reserve of water, food and medication (see our 72h emergency kit).
- Move your important documents to safety: ID, health card, licence.
During: life-saving actions
- Stay away from valley bottoms and watercourses.
- Stay tuned to authorities' instructions.
- Be ready to evacuate quickly if ordered.
- Never try to cross a watercourse.
- Seek refuge as high as possible.
- At home, cut off water, gas and electricity.
- Postpone or cancel any non-essential travel.
After: cleaning and reporting
- Check that installations are dry before restoring power.
- Wear gloves while cleaning: floodwater can carry infections.
- Don't use tap water before it's officially declared drinkable again.
- Air out the home to remove humidity, disinfect surfaces with bleach.
- Throw out damaged mattresses and sofas, and any food that came into contact with floodwater.
Once the state of natural disaster is recognised by decree in the Journal officiel, contact your insurer: the maximum reporting deadline is 30 working days after this publication, with a legal deductible of 380 euros for individuals.
The case of the car
Never try to restart a car that's been flooded: this can worsen electrical and mechanical damage. Contact your insurer before any handling. A car is generally considered unrepairable once water has risen above the seat base, a level beyond which many electronic parts are affected.
Mistakes to avoid
- Crossing a flooded road, by car or on foot, even for a short distance.
- Restarting a flooded car before your insurer's assessment.
- Restoring power before everything is dry, risking a short circuit or fire.
- Waiting to notify your insurer, beyond the 30 working days following the natural disaster decree.
Your documents and plan, ready before the alert
LASTLINE can help you prepare for a flood before it happens:
- receive flood warnings for your area;
- save a meeting point outside the flood zone;
- print your important documents as PDF.
LASTLINE doesn't replace an insurance claim or a natural disaster decree.
Prepare my household with LASTLINEFrequently asked questions
Can you drive through a flooded street?
No, never. Civil Protection is clear: never try to cross a flooded watercourse or road, on foot or by car. 30 cm of moving water is enough to destabilise a vehicle.
What should you do if your car has been flooded?
Never try to restart it: this can worsen electrical and mechanical damage. Contact your insurer to assess the damage before any handling.
How long do you have to report a flood claim to your insurer?
The maximum deadline is 30 working days after the official recognition of the natural disaster is published in the Journal officiel. However, it's recommended to notify your insurer as soon as possible, without waiting for this publication.
What's the deductible in a natural disaster?
The legal deductible applicable to the natural disaster guarantee is set at 380 euros for individuals, a regulatory amount identical regardless of the insurer.
Sources
- Civil Protection (Ministry of the Interior), Flooding.
- Vigicrues, National flood warning map.
Deductible amounts and reporting deadlines are set by current regulations and may change: check current terms with your insurer.