Para-cyclonic regulations in overseas construction

Indeed, the overseas departments and regions are particularly exposed to the risk of cyclones which can cause significant human, material and environmental damage.

A study on the evolution of hurricane risk in Overseas France by 2050 (Caisse Centrale de Réassurance/Météo-France and RiskWeatherTech) was published in June 2020. It shows the very high exposure of these territories (weather return for a 4-year-old category 20 cyclone in the West Indies and 25 years in Reunion) and the extent of the foreseeable damage (several billion euros for Guadeloupe or Martinique, and more than 10 billion for Reunion).

To prevent the effects of hurricane risk and improve the resilience of the territories of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion and Mayotte, the Government has decided to provide a structural response by including requirements for para-hurricane prevention in the regulations.

Indeed, it is only by improving the quality and resistance of new constructions to cyclones that it will be possible to effectively reduce the vulnerability of territories and ensure a rapid return to economic, cultural and social life. local.

This consultation will be carried out under the aegis of the prefects until the summer. It follows several scientific and technical studies and an initial consultation carried out at the end of 2019 by the interministerial delegation for major risks overseas in the territories concerned.

The objective is to achieve regulations on the risk of cyclones that are differentiated and proportionate in order to adapt to each territory concerned. The collective work phase that is being undertaken aims to present these regulations to project owners and local professionals whose expertise is recognized, so that they can make their contribution and take ownership of them.

Indeed, it is the actors of the overseas territories, who will be at the heart of this ambitious project to improve resilience in the face of the risk of cyclonic winds.