Summoned to act “faster”, insurers have just taken an unprecedented decision in favor of victims hit by the earthquake of June 16, 2023 in La Laigne, Cram-Chaban and the surrounding municipalities, in Charente-Maritime and in Deux-Montagnes. Sevres. The rents previously paid by these individuals to hastily relocate will now be “covered” by their insurance companies – around twenty have signed up to this.
Nearly 150 families are affected by this announcement obtained this Thursday from the Charente-Maritime prefecture which evokes “a strong commitment”. Since the earthquake, some victims have been forced to pay for temporary rentals while repaying their property loan. “A double punishment,” summarizes Matthieu Priez, the president of a collective of victims. He himself pays 500 euros each month to stay in a mobile home while waiting to see his home repaired.
Citizen, media and political pressure
For insurers, citizen, media and political pressure had visibly become too strong, agrees Matthieu Priez, who threatened to expose the bad players in public. “It’s a shame to come to this but we had to involve our elected officials, the prefect and even the Prime Minister,” recalls Laurent Renaud, the mayor of Cram-Chaban, referring to the arrival of Gabriel Attal in February.
If it is not retroactive, this commitment will make it possible to support the victims “on a case by case” and – for the better off – until the work is completely completed. “The sky is finally clearing, we are at a turning point,” says Matthieu Priez, who works in parallel with parliamentarians on better compensation for victims of natural disasters: “What we have experienced will inevitably happen to others…”