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Flood risk in Paris!

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The Editor

© rabany sebastien / Shutterstock

Since its creation, the capital has witnessed many floods of the Seine. And while in recent years, they have been relatively moderate, it’s still not uncommon to see streets and subways get flooded. This phenomenon could become more frequent and significant, and the City wants to prepare us for it.

Some viewers, while watching Sous la Seine (an absolute overload served up by Netflix, by the way), likely had a good laugh at the final scene which, spoiler alert, shows Paris underwater after a massive overflow from the river. However, it seems that the risks of flooding are becoming more significant in the capital, to the point that it has become crucial to educate the population and establish quick action plans if the city were to be swallowed by the waters. And it all starts this week, with a number of free workshops popping up everywhere.


A disaster more likely than it seems

In 2023, a study by Ifop revealed that 80% of city dwellers felt they weren’t sufficiently aware of risk management and disaster prevention. At the same time, it’s true that we could...

You might have a hard time understanding the importance of being prepared for a earthquake or massive floods in the heart of Paris. However, as climate change accelerates faster than a shadow, these situations are becoming increasingly likely, and it’s urgent to raise awareness.

This is why, from May 12 to 16, the City of Paris and the prefecture have decided to implement a number of measures to raise awareness among the capital’s residents. First, the forecourt of the 11th arrondissement town hall will host a sensory experience throughout the week to test the difficulty of opening a car door blocked by water. This tool was developed by the central service for hydrometeorology and flood forecasting support, available for free access from 9 AM to 5 PM.


A Free Awareness Day

Furthermore, the City of Paris and the prefecture have decided to hold a free awareness day on Wednesday, May 14, as part of Free access animation day in the various districts of the capital, to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the risks involved in case of flooding. On the agenda: from 10 AM to 4 PM, there will be free workshops at the Saint-Bernard quay, including demonstrations of rescue for people submerged in the Seine.

In the evening, all the city halls in Paris (except for those in the 12th, 14th, and 19th, which will hold their evening events in nearby centers) will offer various and diverse activities, such as mock news broadcasts, interviews with experts, quizzes, and workshops on how to put together an emergency kit… These events aim to raise public awareness of these issues ahead of a full-scale simulation happening next October.


Flooding, a problem for everyone

While the City of Paris has decided to take matters into their own hands in the face of increasing flooding risks, they’re not the only ones taking this seriously, as the ...

RATP has also revealed a plan of action in case of a flood from the Seine. And we thank them for that because when we see that the metro is already full of water after just a brief hail shower lasting a few minutes, it’s not very reassuring for what’s to come.

To tackle potential disasters, the transportation agency's agents and experts have come up with various dynamic maps that help indicate which lines and stations are closed depending on water levels. And the first line to close its doors would be... the RER C! Thankfully, it would take nearly 7 meters of flooding to paralyze the majority of the network in central Paris. In any case, we’re happy to know that risks are being considered and that measures are being put in place. In the meantime, let’s brush up on our swimming lessons, just in case...


All on the Seine
From May 12 to May 16, 2025
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