138 km/h was the wind speed during the storm Domingos on November 4, 2023. A record in Rochefort. Announced, his strength nonetheless surprised everyone. Clearly, its gusts caused damage: the carousel in Place Colbert was damaged and no fewer than 74 trees felled across the city. But houses also have some losses. Like Danielle and Dominique Josse at 108, rue de la République. However, this couple are fighting to be heard by their insurance company and more than six months later they have still not received compensation.
Bad weather
&ldquo…
138 km/h was the wind speed during the storm Domingos on November 4, 2023. A record in Rochefort. Announced, his strength nonetheless surprised everyone. Clearly, its gusts caused damage: the carousel in Place Colbert was damaged and no fewer than 74 trees felled across the city. But houses also have some losses. Like Danielle and Dominique Josse at 108, rue de la République. However, this couple are fighting to be heard by their insurance company and more than six months later they have still not received compensation.
Bad weather
“On November 5, our neighbor reported to us that a stone block from our house had fallen onto his roof and caused water intrusion damage to his home. Intervening, the firefighters explained that the La Laigne earthquake, which occurred on June 16, had caused cracks in many facades,” explains Danielle Josse. In fact, this earthquake, which forced the demolition of several houses and the rehousing of a large number of residents, was rated at a strength of 4.9 (1) according to the National Geological Service (BFGM) If ten surrounding communes of Charente-Maritime have been recognized as being in a state of natural disaster, this is not the case for Rochefort. But immediately afterwards, “our front door could no longer be opened, the hinges were stuck,” continues Danielle Josse, who immediately called a carpenter.
The heavy rain that fell in the department in the autumn did not help matters. Without forgetting the storms Aline, then Céline at the end of October, followed by Ciaran at the beginning of November. “With Domingos immediately after, much more violent than the three previous events in Rochefort, the structure of our house was weakened and the ironwork of the stone block on the cornice, in the corner of the second floor, gave way. This damage is the consequence of these climatic episodes, ” explains Dominique Josse, who wrote in these terms to his insurance broker April to report the loss on November 7.
The carousel at Place Colbert in Rochefort did not withstand the Domingos storm. Fortunately, after repairs, it returned in Easter 2024.
DYCLAN BOUNIOT
In such a case, it is better to contact your insurance company as soon as possible, but here the Josse couple are all the more busy with getting their house repaired, as it must be sold at a notary on 11 December 2023. the insurance company a little over a month to compensate for the damage, which must be repaired before the action is carried out.
Ping pong game
Except that April believes that “the cause of the fall of the cornice cannot be clearly identified,” citing “structural fragility, perhaps due to the earthquake […], aggravated by the effects of wind and rain. And the case was closed without further action under the pretext that “the cornice has probably deteriorated over time”. Josse denies this conclusion and explains that they have always maintained their house. While they wait for better, they have to pay 3,157.55 euros for emergency repairs. Hope this will only be an advance on costs before compensation.
The cause of the cornice fall cannot be clearly identified
April is adamant: since the loss can be attributed to the earthquake and Rochefort does not benefit from recognition as a natural disaster, the contract does not cover the risks. But good lord, he is making a commercial gesture with a discount of 318.13 euros on the next half-yearly contribution! New denial from Josse, explaining that the seismic cause is an assumption and that they especially insisted on the consecutive storms. Especially since their contract covers damage in connection with winds of more than 100 km/h.
April finds another trick: “storm not confirmed by a prefectural decree”. And invites the Josse couple to contact Météo France to prove the wind strength in Rochefort on November 4. As if the media hadn’t talked about it… Danielle Josse is struggling to find documents. April 16th new letter from April which finally acknowledges that “the damage is actually a result of Domingos”.
Storm Domingos downed 74 trees throughout Rochefort on November 4, 2023.
DAVID BRIAND
Danielle Josse could have said phew, but a month later she still hasn’t been compensated. For this time it was Allianz that dug up a detail for not repaying the entire amount committed: “the expert noted that the declared risk was not in accordance (dependency not declared in the contract)”. Since then, Dominique and Danielle Josse have left April, “an unscrupulous and bad faith insurance company”. Will it take a bit of pressure from the prefect, or even the prime minister, as with the victims of La Laigne (2), for Josse to receive full compensation?
(1) Originally rated between 5.3 and 5.8. (2) They are still not compensated.
