138 km/h was the wind speed during the Domingos storm on November 4, 2023. A record in Rochefort. Announced, its strength surprised everyone. Obviously, its gusts caused damage: the carousel in Place Colbert was damaged and no less than 74 trees fell almost everywhere in the city. But the houses also suffered losses. Like that of Danielle and Dominique Josse at 108, rue de la République. However, this couple is having trouble hearing from their insurance company and more than six months later, they still haven’t received compensation.
The bad weather
138 km/h was the wind speed during the Domingos storm on November 4, 2023. A record in Rochefort. Announced, its strength surprised everyone. Obviously, their gusts caused damage: the carousel in Place Colbert was damagedand no less than 74 trees fell almost everywhere in the city. But the houses also suffered losses. Like that of Danielle and Dominique Josse at 108, rue de la République. However, this couple is struggling to hear from their insurance company and more than six months later, they still haven’t received compensation.
The bad weather
“On November 5, our neighbor informed us that a stone block from our house had fallen on his roof, causing water infiltration damage to his house. Intervening, the firemen explained that the La Laigne earthquake, which occurred on June 16, had caused cracks in several facades,” explains Danielle Josse. Indeed, this earthquake, which forced the demolition of several houses and the relocation of a certain number of inhabitants , was rated at a magnitude of 4.9 (1) according to the national geological service (BFGM) And ten communes surrounding Charente-Maritime have been recognized as being in a state of natural disaster, this is not the case for Rochefort. However, immediately after, “our front door could no longer open, the hinges were jammed”, continues Danielle Josse, who immediately called a carpenter.
The heavy rains that fell in the department in the autumn did not help. Without forgetting and storms Aline So what Celine at the end of October, followed by They will beginning of November. “With Sunday immediately after, much more violently than the three previous events in Rochefort, the structure of our house was weakened and the joints of the stone block of the cornice, at the corner of the second floor, gave way. This damage is the consequence of these weather episodes,” explains Dominique Josse, who wrote in these terms to his insurance broker April to report the loss on November 7.
In this case, it is better to contact your insurer as soon as possible, but here, the Josse couple is faster to have their house repaired that must be sold before a notary on December 11, 2023. The declaration of accident therefore leaves the insurer a little more than a month to compensate for the damage that must be repaired before the act is completed.
ping pong game
Except that Aprile considers that “the cause of the fall of the frame cannot be clearly identified”, citing “a structural fragility, perhaps due to the earthquake (…), aggravated by the effects of wind and rain “. And the file was closed without further action on the pretext that “the frame has probably deteriorated over time.” The Josse reject this conclusion, explaining that they still keep their house. While waiting for better, they have to pay 3,157.55 euros for urgent repairs. Hoping it will just be an advance on costs before compensation.
The cause of the falling frame cannot be clearly identified
April remains firm: 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 great sir, make a commercial gesture with a refund of 318.13 euros on the next half-yearly contribution! New refusal from the Josse who explain that the seismic cause is an assumption and that they insisted above all on the subsequent storms. Especially since his contract covers damage related to winds of more than 100 km/h.
April finds another trick: “storm not confirmed by a prefectural decree”. And invites the Josse couple to come closer Weather France to test the wind speed at Rochefort on November 4th. As if the media hadn’t talked about it… Danielle Josse rushes to find documents. April 16, new letter from April that finally acknowledges that “the damage is really a result of Domingos.”
Danielle Josse could say ugh, but a month later, she still hasn’t been compensated. Because this time, it is Allianz that discovered a detail to not reimburse the entire amount committed: “the expert noticed that the declared risk was not in accordance (dependency not stated in the contract)”. Since then, Dominique and Danielle Josse have left April, “an unscrupulous and bad faith insurance company.” It will be necessary a little pressure from the prefect, even the Prime Ministeras for the victims of La Laigne (2), so that the Josse are fully compensated.