Which are the covered damages?
- Damage to the building: The obligatory multi-risk property insurance “multirisque habitation” usually covers rain, storm (“tempête”) or natural disasters (“catastrophes naturelles”). Concerning flood damages, a ministerial decree fixing the conditions for the flood to be considered a natural disaster should be published within 48 hours. Insurance companies will then be obliged to take into account flood damages in the mentioned areas.
- Damage to the vehicles: The damage caused to the vehicle is covered if you have a comprehensive auto insurance policy including “une garantie incendie ou dommages”. If you only signed collision insurance, damages caused by natural disasters won’t be covered.
Deadline for your statement to the insurance company?
You should immediately write to your insurance company, and at the latest within 5 working days starting from the publication in the official journal to carry out your declaration.
Which are the documents to be produced?
You have to send to your insurance a description of the damage and a quantified list of all the lost or damaged objects. You can produce any type of document: repair or purchase invoices, notarial acts, leasing agreements, expertises, photographs…
ADVICE:
Preserve the damaged objects so that your insurer, or the expert, can examine them, and take all necessary measures for the prevention of damage increase.
Bring your damaged vehicle to your mechanic (or the mechanic approved by your insurance company). Indicate to your insurer the place where it can be examined by the expert.
Take a photograph, as far as possible, of all visible damages.
Get written quotes for the works and repairs required.
Before authorising any repair, be sure to inform the insurance company and try to get the information that they will cover the costs.
Important information !
You will not be able to reintegrate houses and buildings in so called “black zones”. The French Government considers that the inhabitants of these zones would be subject to a mortal risk, given the proximity of the sea. These houses and buildings will be destroyed. According to the French government, the Xynthia victims owning a house in the black zone, will be fully compensated. Either you wish to follow an “amicable” or a contradictory procedure. The owners deciding to sell their house via the amicable procedure will have the time to think about the offer of compensation and compare it with information from real estate agencies. In case of agreement, an authentic act (“acte authentique”) will be signed by the bailiff and sent back to the owner within 1 month. The payment of the agreed compensation will then be made one month after the receipt of the authentic act.
You can consult the map of the “black zone” at the following link: http://www.gouvernement.fr/gouvernement/xynthia-publication-de-la-cartographie-des-zones-noires-en-vendee-et-en-charente-mariti
For those living in other zones, a French practical guide might be of help to rehabilitate your houses "Inondations : guide de remise en état des bâtiments"
Update on 2010 20th May
