A major flood simulation exercise will take place in November, testing emergency responses and involving residents in evacuation drills across several areas of Tours and La Riche.
Flood drill planned for November
A major flood simulation exercise is set for November 17 and 18, organized by the Indre-et-Loire prefecture with Tours Métropole and other local authorities. The goal is to test emergency procedures and improve coordination in case of a real flood.Scenario kept secret for realism
The exercise’s scenario has been designed to mimic real uncertainty, with details kept confidential even from local officials. It starts with a level orange flood, meaning some areas are already considered flooded and evacuated.Residents invited to participate
The exercise invites residents to join, with volunteer registration open until November 11 through the Tours Métropole website. Only a limited number of people from specific neighborhoods in Tours and La Riche can register, as they are the ones affected by the drill.Evacuation routes and destinations
In Tours, buses will transport volunteers from two neighborhoods to the Choiseul Gymnasium, a designated Zone of Regroupment and Orientation (ZRO). In La Riche, volunteers will go to the ZRO at Notre-Dame-d’Oé. A similar evacuation will take place in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, involving children from a leisure center.Activities and education in ZROs
Once at the ZROs, participants will go through a registration process and receive basic supplies. Educational activities, including a theatrical performance by local troupes, will be held to teach proper flood responses. Participants will then be taken back home by bus.Three phases of the drill
The exercise will take place over three half-days. On November 17, officials will simulate responding to a worsening flood on the Loire River. The next day, the actual evacuation of volunteers will occur. In the afternoon, a second simulation will focus on managing the aftermath of the flood, including restoring utilities and returning residents home.No impact on non-participants
The prefecture assures that non-volunteers will not be affected by the exercise, unlike a 2023 event that slowed traffic. However, alert systems like sirens or the FR-Alerte mobile notification system might be used during the drill.
