Five Gironde communes declared disaster zones

Five communes in Gironde have been officially recognized as being in a state of natural disaster due to damages related to drought or wave-induced flooding. Affected insured parties have 30 days from the publication of the decree to declare their claims.

Official decree confirms the status

The interministerial decree of October 16, 2026, published in the Official Journal on October 23, recognizes the state of natural disaster in five communes of Gironde. The decree specifies the affected communes, the events, and their dates.

Drought-related ground movements

Four of the communes—Camarsac, Coimères, Saint-Jean-de-Blaignac, and Saint-Laurent-du-Bois—are affected by ground movements related to drought and soil rehydration. The recognized period for these events extends from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Clay soil effects explained

On clay soils, variations in humidity cause ground movements that can lead to cracks in buildings. The Géorisques file on clay shrinkage and swelling describes, among other things, cracks, deformations of openings, and disorders affecting pipelines.

Wave-induced flooding in La Teste-de-Buch

In La Teste-de-Buch, the recognition concerns a different event: flooding due to the mechanical impact of waves from February 11 to 19, 2026. The period and type of recognized damages are therefore distinct from those of the other four communes.

Insurance coverage details

The natural disaster coverage concerns direct material damages suffered by property covered by damage insurance, including multi-risk home insurance. The insurer examines each case according to the contract, the nature of the damages, and their link to the recognized event.

Claim declaration deadline

The declaration period is 30 days from the publication in the Official Journal on October 23, 2026. The Gironde prefecture reminds affected parties of this deadline. Even when the damages date back several months, the publication of the decree constitutes the starting point for this period.

Required documents for claims

To prepare the file, the insured must provide their contact information, contract number, property location, and a dated description of the damages. Photographs, invoices, quotes, and estimated costs help document the damage.

Existing claims and procedures

People who have already reported cracks or other damages to their insurer can provide the reference of the decree and check that their file is being processed under the natural disaster category. Keeping records of communications and asking about the procedures for a possible assessment also helps prepare for repairs.

Insurance cost differences

The amount remaining to be paid by individuals varies according to the phenomenon. The legal franchise indicated by Service-Public is 1,520 euros for damages due to drought and soil rehydration, compared to 380 euros for other damages to non-professional property covered by this regime.

Business interruption coverage

Professionals who have subscribed to insurance against business interruption must also declare the corresponding claim within the same 30-day period. For the insured in the five communes, the immediate step is to relate the observed damages to the recognized periods, then to submit the supporting documents to their insurance company before the deadline expires.