A natural risk

ALTHOUGH many people head to France to bask in the sunshine and enjoy a relaxing time, things can and do go wrong.

Flooding, strong winds and heavy snowfall can be just some of the natural disasters that may put a brake on your plans.

But by using the internet, and if your French is not too bad, you can find a wealth of useful information on the government’s environmental website.

One of the biggest fears for people moving to a new place is the risk of flood water filling their home and ending their dream.

Heavy rainfall at the end of last year caused problems in the south east and near the Loire region.

There is a page on the site that provides information on the risk from natural disasters including floods, forest fires and even earthquakes.

Elsewhere on the site there is a section that deals specifically with water and biodiversity.

There are also monthly reports (Le bulletin hydrologique mensuel) that provides an insight to the regions.