Floods alert in South-Est of France : interview to Emphoux and Aicardi (City of Antibes)
In the nearby Alpes-Maritimes County, precipitations were monitored in real time by a dual polarisation X-band radar located on Mont Vial (Malaussène). We asked to Valérie Emphoux and Jean-Marie Aicardi from the City of Antibes Juan -les-Pins how this emergency was handled.
What were the consequences of these strong rainstorms in your territory and how your service has responded to this emergency?
In the end, there was no need to close roads or evacuate people last weekend (FYI a camping was evacuated during heavy rain a few days earlier).
A dual polarisation X-band radar provides the City of Antibes Juan-les-Pins detailed information on precipitations. What is the added value of this device in the management of flood risk, in particular during the recent rainstorm event?
You noticed a tendency of the residents to underestimate the risk of flooding. How a better perception of risks can support prevention and what is the role of communication and education?
Before the flood, the knowledge of phenomena (possible height and extent water rates ...) allows to study the mitigation measures to be implemented by the inhabitants. During the floods, a better perception of risks would allow residents to think about the safest course of action they should take, and to comply with the minimum safety precautions. After the flood, we can imagine that the "psychological" shock is less violent.
Communication and education are key components of prevention, but which require people involvement to inform and educate: this is the main difficulty. Certainly, there are many projects and ideas to be tested in this field, which is currently probably poorly understood if we consider witness statements after each flood.
To learn more about experience in urban flash-floods management from the City of Antibes read the presentation held on 23rd October 2013 by Valérie Emphoux and Jean-Marie Aicardi: Alerte et gestion des crues éclairs sur les petits bassins versants urbains.
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