Yesterday morning, the Council of Mayors of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis implemented support measures for municipalities that suffered damage after the passage of storm “Alex”.
After this emergency meeting of the Council of Mayors of the Metropolis, its president Christian Estrosi announced a series of aid measures. A budget of 20 million euros was allocated for their implementation. Among them, one of the most urgent is the restoration of access roads to villages, some of which are still cut off from the world.
Another urgent point is the restoration of drinking water supply systems. At the moment, 150 agents from the “Eau d’Azur” services are working to restore the distribution and sanitation circuits.
Subsequently, the resumption of public and school transport as well as waste collection will become a priority once the roads are cleared. Moreover, schools closed by prefectural order on October 4 will not reopen before next week depending on the damage assessment carried out on a case-by-case basis.
Continuing Supplies
The army is helping the services of the @MetropoleNCA mobilized since the beginning of #TempeteAlex to deliver essential products to the most isolated villages. Thanks to the State and the companies contributing to solidarity with the affected populations pic.twitter.com/ntXHHUwHIo
— Christian Estrosi (@cestrosi) October 5, 2020
Given the extent of the damage, the re-establishment of drinking water supply systems in affected municipalities is likely to take several long weeks. Two-thirds of the residents of the Haut Pays are affected by water shortages in several municipalities such as La Tour sur Tinée, Bairols, Roquebillière, Clans, Belvédère, Lantosque, and Marie. To address this problem, water packs and tank trucks are being delivered depending on village accessibility.
Christian Estrosi thanked those who were able to donate while reminding that, “the collection should primarily be material goods through non-perishable food items (pasta, rice, flour, sugar, oil, compote, canned goods, sweets, coffee, dry cakes, infant and essential products, etc.). I ask not to send used clothing due to COVID. The Nikaia center is the main collection point, and in each municipality where a collection is organized, it should be centralized as much as possible so that vehicles can be sent for transport to the main center.”
In 48 hours, nearly 12 tons of goods have been delivered to the municipalities in need. Assistance for affected individuals is ongoing thanks to helicopters deployed by the army. In total, 240 people have been evacuated to Nice airport, with 60 being housed in hotels or aparthotels with the help of the municipal social action center (CCAS). The president of the Metropolis sent a message to, “thank the Nice taxi drivers who voluntarily transported them to their place of choice.”
