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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

France activates new 'extreme heat Orsec plan' amid red heatwave alerts

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • France's government has activated a new "extreme heat Orsec plan" for departments under red heatwave alerts.
  • The plan aims to better protect vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and homeless, during extreme heat.
  • It includes opening dedicated cooling centers and utilizing updated registries of at-risk individuals.

France's government has launched a new "extreme heat Orsec plan" in response to escalating heatwave conditions. The measure is being implemented in departments currently under red alert for extreme heat, aiming to provide enhanced protection for the nation's most vulnerable citizens.

The objective of this extreme heat Orsec plan, which did not exist in the past, is to take into account the feedback from recent waves.

— Maud BregeonThe government spokesperson explained the purpose of the new plan, highlighting its basis in past experiences with extreme heat.

Maud Bregeon, the government spokesperson, announced the activation of this plan, emphasizing that it incorporates lessons learned from previous heatwaves. She highlighted that individuals who are alone, elderly, or living in urban areas are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, experiencing higher mortality rates. The new plan seeks to mitigate these risks.

The people most vulnerable, those who are alone, often in the city, often elderly, suffer more from excess mortality than the rest of the population.

— Maud BregeonThe spokesperson detailed the specific demographics most at risk during heatwaves, informing the plan's focus.

The initiative involves establishing dedicated "cooling centers" and "protection centers" across affected departments. These facilities will offer safe, accessible, and cool environments for individuals at risk. Prefects are required to maintain precise and up-to-date registries of vulnerable populations, compiled in collaboration with local municipalities and social services. These centers will be equipped with essential amenities, including beds, first-aid kits, separate sanitary facilities, and enhanced human support.

Each prefect will have to rely on a precise and up-to-date register of these fragile populations, built with the municipalities, the CCAS, social services and the CAF.

— Maud BregeonThe spokesperson outlined the administrative process for identifying and supporting vulnerable individuals.

Bregeon also confirmed that 6,000 of the 30,000 air conditioning units promised by the prime minister have already been delivered and installed in hospitals. The remaining units will be distributed as needed. The government is taking these steps as Météo France forecasts red vigilance for 24 departments on Saturday, with nine western departments already under the alert due to the third heatwave in two months.

We are going two, even three steps further, by targeting first the most vulnerable people, with better cross-referencing of files.

— Maud BregeonThe spokesperson described how the new plan enhances previous efforts to protect at-risk individuals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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