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Floods Leave Paris Contemplating a Wetter Future Floods Leave Paris Contemplating a Wetter Future
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — Must France simply get used to flooding?PARIS — Must France simply get used to flooding?
The Seine River overflowed its banks again in Paris and several nearby cities this week, a mere 18 months after reaching its highest level since 1982.The Seine River overflowed its banks again in Paris and several nearby cities this week, a mere 18 months after reaching its highest level since 1982.
Thirteen of France’s 96 administrative departments had flood alerts as of Friday, in what the monitoring body Météo-France says is the country’s wettest winter since 1959.Thirteen of France’s 96 administrative departments had flood alerts as of Friday, in what the monitoring body Météo-France says is the country’s wettest winter since 1959.
Some experts suggest climate change is likely to make such events more frequent. And an international body chose this week to publish a study arguing that Paris and the rest of the Seine basin needed greater protection against the risk of a catastrophic flood.Some experts suggest climate change is likely to make such events more frequent. And an international body chose this week to publish a study arguing that Paris and the rest of the Seine basin needed greater protection against the risk of a catastrophic flood.
“All we can do is put up scaffolding to make a pontoon, and hope that the water doesn’t come up much higher,” Diane Bourlier, a 63-year-old who lives on a houseboat in Paris, said as she looked anxiously out at the rising river.“All we can do is put up scaffolding to make a pontoon, and hope that the water doesn’t come up much higher,” Diane Bourlier, a 63-year-old who lives on a houseboat in Paris, said as she looked anxiously out at the rising river.
Ms. Bourlier was among the lucky ones: As of Thursday night, 400 people had been evacuated from homes in the Paris region, and a thousand faced power cuts, according to the police prefecture. Rivers have swelled across the country, forcing evacuations and the closing of roads and infrastructure.Ms. Bourlier was among the lucky ones: As of Thursday night, 400 people had been evacuated from homes in the Paris region, and a thousand faced power cuts, according to the police prefecture. Rivers have swelled across the country, forcing evacuations and the closing of roads and infrastructure.
In Paris, where the Seine rose above 18 feet on Friday, river traffic has been interrupted and roads along the river banks remained closed. A central portion of the RER C train line has been shut until the end of the month, and the government activated a plan that could let it relocate work from some ministries if the situation worsens.In Paris, where the Seine rose above 18 feet on Friday, river traffic has been interrupted and roads along the river banks remained closed. A central portion of the RER C train line has been shut until the end of the month, and the government activated a plan that could let it relocate work from some ministries if the situation worsens.
Public authorities said they expected the Seine to crest on Saturday morning at up to six meters, or about 19.6 feet. In the floods of June 2016, which killed four people in France, it peaked at 20 feet. Public authorities said they expected the Seine to crest on Sunday at up to six meters, or about 19.6 feet. In the floods of June 2016, which killed four people in France, it peaked at 20 feet.
During those floods, several monuments had to be closed, including the Louvre Museum, where artworks had to be evacuated. All museums remained open this week, although the Louvre shut the lower level of its department of Islamic Arts. The city authorities have also called on people to stay away from the river banks.During those floods, several monuments had to be closed, including the Louvre Museum, where artworks had to be evacuated. All museums remained open this week, although the Louvre shut the lower level of its department of Islamic Arts. The city authorities have also called on people to stay away from the river banks.
Although some experts said it was hard to determine whether global warming was behind the current flood, others warned that a worrying pattern was emerging.Although some experts said it was hard to determine whether global warming was behind the current flood, others warned that a worrying pattern was emerging.
“Because of climate change, we can expect floods in the Seine basin to be at least as frequent as they are right now,” said Florence Habets, a senior researcher at the C.N.R.S., France’s national center for scientific research. “No matter what we say, the more we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the more we reduce our impact on droughts and floods.”“Because of climate change, we can expect floods in the Seine basin to be at least as frequent as they are right now,” said Florence Habets, a senior researcher at the C.N.R.S., France’s national center for scientific research. “No matter what we say, the more we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the more we reduce our impact on droughts and floods.”
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, a left-wing politician who has been at the forefront of the fight against climate change, was also quick to mention long-term challenges.The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, a left-wing politician who has been at the forefront of the fight against climate change, was also quick to mention long-term challenges.
“Beyond the emergency, this flooding phenomenon, which is more and more recurrent in Paris, reminds us how important it is for our city to adapt to climate change,” she said in a tweet.“Beyond the emergency, this flooding phenomenon, which is more and more recurrent in Paris, reminds us how important it is for our city to adapt to climate change,” she said in a tweet.
Deputy Mayor Colombe Brossel said in a phone interview that although the situation was serious, the floods would have few concrete consequences in Paris.Deputy Mayor Colombe Brossel said in a phone interview that although the situation was serious, the floods would have few concrete consequences in Paris.
They were certainly far less severe than some the city endured during the past century. In 1910, the Seine rose above 28 feet, giving Paris “the aspect of a beleaguered place,” according to a New York Times report of the time.They were certainly far less severe than some the city endured during the past century. In 1910, the Seine rose above 28 feet, giving Paris “the aspect of a beleaguered place,” according to a New York Times report of the time.
Although local officials said they were now prepared to face similar conditions, experts from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that such a catastrophe could affect five million people and cost up to 30 billion euros, or about $37 billion.Although local officials said they were now prepared to face similar conditions, experts from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that such a catastrophe could affect five million people and cost up to 30 billion euros, or about $37 billion.
In a study published on Tuesday, they noted that although Paris had implemented further flood prevention policies since 2014, the authorities’ efforts remained limited compared to the risks the city faced.In a study published on Tuesday, they noted that although Paris had implemented further flood prevention policies since 2014, the authorities’ efforts remained limited compared to the risks the city faced.
“Examples from the reconstruction of a resilient New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or New York after Sandy, could inspire Paris to build up its own resilience before disaster hits,” they wrote.“Examples from the reconstruction of a resilient New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or New York after Sandy, could inspire Paris to build up its own resilience before disaster hits,” they wrote.
Heavy rains also flooded parts of eastern and northwestern France this week, blocking roads and inundating households that had already been affected by the torrential rains of 2016.Heavy rains also flooded parts of eastern and northwestern France this week, blocking roads and inundating households that had already been affected by the torrential rains of 2016.
One of the most affected areas was the town of Villeneuve-St.-Georges, 10 miles south of Paris, where the military had to help residents evacuate their homes and propel themselves on dinghies through streets flooded with brownish water and waste.One of the most affected areas was the town of Villeneuve-St.-Georges, 10 miles south of Paris, where the military had to help residents evacuate their homes and propel themselves on dinghies through streets flooded with brownish water and waste.
“For some people, this is the second time in 18 months that they have been victims of floods,” Alexandre Boyer, a local councilman, said. “It’s beginning to get a little too much.”“For some people, this is the second time in 18 months that they have been victims of floods,” Alexandre Boyer, a local councilman, said. “It’s beginning to get a little too much.”