Authorities in France have declared 45 municipalities in the southern Herault department to be natural disaster areas following heavy rainfall and flooding that hit the region earlier this autumn, broadcaster BFMTV reported on Tuesday. The decree covers damage caused by river flooding, surface water runoff and associated mudslides. The recognition allows residents and property owners with insurance coverage to benefit from compensation under France's natural disaster insurance scheme.
The 45 municipalities include Montpellier, Castelnau-le-Lez, Lattes, Lunel, Perols, Baillargues, Castries, Grabels, Juvignac, Saint-Jean-de-Vedas, Vendargues and Saint-Gely-du-Fesc. Applications from 10 other municipalities remain under review, with authorities requesting additional reports before making a decision. France has experienced several severe weather events in recent weeks, with torrential rainfall triggering flash floods across southern and southeastern regions.
Anadolu Agency reports that France has declared 45 municipalities in Herault natural disaster areas after heavy autumn rainfall and flooding, and it explains clearly what the decree covers and who it helps. The article describes torrential rainfall and flash floods across southern France but never says that warming is making heavy rainfall like this more frequent and more intense, so a reader is left to see the floods as ordinary bad weather.
Leaves out the climate link
Serious
“torrential rainfall triggering flash floods across southern and southeastern regions”
Why this matters
The words "torrential rainfall triggering flash floods" describe a run of extreme rainfall events across southern France. They stop at the weather and say nothing about why such downpours are becoming more common.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away thinking these floods are a run of bad luck with the autumn weather, with no link to a warming climate.
The context
Human-caused warming has made heavy rainfall events more frequent and more intense. The article never says this, not even in one short line, although it closes by describing several severe weather events in recent weeks.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “warming”.
France has experienced several severe weather events in recent weeks, with torrential rainfall triggering flash floods across southern and southeastern regions. Climate change is making heavy rainfall like this more frequent and more intense.