Since the Civil Security Act of August 13, 2004, the Communal Rescue Plan (P.C.S) is mandatory in major cities, including Nice. It was in this context that a simulation exercise took place on Friday, December 15, at the town hall. The aim was to see how the relevant authorities, including the municipal team and firefighters, would act in the event of a major flood of several neighborhoods in Nice by the Paillon. A pseudo crisis unit had, for the occasion, been installed on the ground floor of the building, with the entire floor being requisitioned. Facing this type of situation, gathering all the concerned parties (around twenty people) around a round table, to assess their coordination if a disaster hit the city, becomes a priority. Effective and coherent decision-making comes at this cost.
And decisions, they will not cease to make. The program is extensive. The orange level weather alert was triggered at 6 a.m.: heavy rains (up to 100mm locally) fell during the night. As a direct consequence, the Paillon just overflowed. The P.C.S was quickly implemented around 8:15 a.m., following the first incidents. A man and his construction machine were indeed swept away by the flood. Moreover, the Apollinaire high school is surrounded by floodwaters. The students must be confined in the gymnasium of the school. Throughout the day, as if the situation were real, the crisis unit will strive to find solutions to the multiple problems posed by this flood.
First and foremost, alert administrations and services in real-time. Then, check and test the implementation procedures of the crisis center and command post as well as the collaboration between the leaders of the unit. Finally, inform the general public through the media without causing panic. Everyone, in a very specific role, played along. Marc Lafaurie, Deputy for Environment, states: “This simulation aims to see where and when it doesn’t work.” And adds: “The day it really happens, we will be ready.”
Once the exercise is completed, two engineers from the public information center for industrial prevention and environmental protection are responsible for debriefing the team. It emerges that the crisis unit handled it well. Another simulation will take place in March 2007 but this time completely blind. Even the day of the exercise will not be communicated to the concerned personnel.
