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Flood risk in Paris: how is the capital preparing?

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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 not unusual to see streets and subways flooded. This phenomenon could very well become more frequent and significant, and the City wants to prepare us for it.

Some people, while watching Sous la Seine (which is basically a Netflix-induced overload, just so you know), probably had a good laugh at the final scene that, spoiler alert, shows Paris underwater after a massive overflow from the river. However, it seems that the risks of flooding are becoming more and more significant in the capital, to the point where it's becoming urgent to educate the population and establish quick action plans if the city finds itself submerged. 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 Parisians felt they weren't sufficiently aware of risk management and disaster prevention. And at the same time, it's true that we could...It's hard to understand the importance of preparing for a earthquake or massive flood right in the heart of Paris. However, as climate change progresses faster than we can keep up, these situations are becoming increasingly likely, and a wake-up call is urgently needed.

That’s 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 residents of the capital. First, the forecourt of the 11th arrondissement town hall will host throughout the week a sensory device that lets you experience the challenge of opening a car door blocked by water. This tool was developed by the Central Service for Hydrometeorology and support for flood forecasting, and it's available for free access from 9 AM to 5 PM.


A Free Awareness Day

More broadly, the City Hall of Paris and the prefecture have decided to organize this Wednesday, May 14, a day of free-access activities in the different districts of the capital, to about the risks associated with flooding. On the agenda: from 10 AM to 4 PM, there will be free workshops at quai Saint-Bernard, including, for example, demonstrations of rescue for people submerged in the Seine.

In the evening, all the city halls of Paris (except for those in the 12th, 14th, and 19th, which will have their evening events relocated to nearby centers) will offer a variety of fun activities, such as mock news broadcasts, interviews with experts, quizzes, and workshops on putting together an emergency kit... These events are designed to raise public awareness about these issues before a full-scale simulation takes place in October.


Flooding: A Problem for Everyone

So, the City Hall of Paris has decided to take matters into their own hands in the face of increasing flooding risks, but they’re not the only ones taking this seriously, as the RATP has also unveiled a plan of action in case of a flood in the Seine. And we thank them for that, because when we see that the metro is already filled with water after just a brief hail shower lasting a few minutes, it’s not very reassuring for what’s to come.

To prepare for potential disasters, the transportation agency's agents and experts have come up with various evolving maps that can indicate the different closed lines and stations based on water levels. And the first line to close its doors would be… the RER C! Fortunately, we would need to reach almost 7 meters of flooding to paralyze the vast majority of the network in central Paris. In any case, we're happy to know that risks are being taken into account and that measures are being put in place. In the meantime, we're going to brush up on our swimming lessons, just in case…


All in Seine
From May 12 to 16, 2025
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