Since that terrible day on October 2, teams from the Metropolis and the department have been working tirelessly to enable the inhabitants of the valleys to return to a “normal” life. Two months after these terrible storms that claimed eight lives and left eleven missing, the work remains colossal.
While a large part of the access routes have been restored, many construction projects are still ongoing and will require several months before completion. These works are mainly concentrated in the Roya Valley, where access remains very complicated to this day. Now, it is time to address the most urgent needs as winter is fast approaching.
Several roads and paths, representing the only means of access to dozens of houses, are now only accessible by foot. To supply the residents, groups of volunteers take turns daily to bring drinking water to areas where the running water distribution network cannot yet be operational.
Rebuild as quickly as possible to save a doomed season
Many construction projects are still underway, notably in tourist resorts, in an attempt to save “the valleys.” All the efforts made have not been enough to convince the Government, which rejected the idea of opening the ski slopes for residents of Alpes-Maritimes. A Government that had promised, through Emmanuel Macron, aid proportional to the scale of the disaster. However, COVID has struck again, causing additional delays and difficulties. Let’s hope that the numerous appeals from Eric Ciotti, Charles-Ange Ginésy, and Christian Estrosi are heard.
Because the funds already committed by the Department and the Metropolitan Council will probably not be enough to rebuild these devastated valleys for many more months.
There is only one thing left to do: rely on solidarity, as from day one, by continuing to support the help networks while waiting… but for what?
