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Recent Evolution of Natural Hazard Management Policy in France, the Example of Serre-Chevalier (French Alps)

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Abstract

Since the 1960s, the development of the Serre-Chevalier winter and summer resort has led to a rapid extension of the urban fabric on the territory of the village of St-Chaffrey. On July 9, 1981, the new neighborhoods built on the alluvial fan of the Verdarel torrent were partly devastated by a channeled debris flow. This disaster prompted the civil authorities to set up an extensive fluvial regulation system, which rapidly contributed to recreating a climate of confidence and security favorable to continuing urban expansion. The combination of catastrophic floods in July 1995, and a new security-oriented national policy on natural hazards, nevertheless led to a return to precautionary measures. The St-Chaffrey town council has therefore been forced by the State to accept a building-free zone on the land-use plan. This measure is perceived as a real denial of the local efficacy of the flood and landslide risk management policy as carried out by the council of St-Chaffrey during the previous 20 years.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank David E. Alexander and Virginia H. Dale for theit constructive advice. We have greatly appreciated their patience, understanding that writing in English is not easy for non-native speakers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géomorphologie et Gestion des Milieux Naturels, UFR de Géographie et d’Aménagement Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, F59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, Lille, France

    Christophe Flez & Philippe Lahousse

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  1. Christophe Flez
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  2. Philippe Lahousse
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Correspondence to Philippe Lahousse.

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Flez, C., Lahousse, P. Recent Evolution of Natural Hazard Management Policy in France, the Example of Serre-Chevalier (French Alps). Environmental Management 34, 353–362 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-004-2777-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-004-2777-8

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