Several aid funds will be set up to support traders weakened by the bad weather and floods last week in the Rhône. The Lyon Métropole Saint-Étienne Roanne Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also reactivated its crisis unit to help them.
After the severe bad weather and floods that occurred in the Lyon region last week, help for traders is being put in place. A crisis unit has been reactivated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Lyon Métropole Saint-Étienne Roanne.
From Friday October 18, the provision of security guards to “secure businesses to prevent them from being looted at night” was coordinated by the CCI.
“There were still some” recognizes Régis Poly, vice-president of the CCI in charge of trade, on the set of BFM Lyon. The initiative was taken over three nights. “We cannot continue because the cost is too high.”
A telephone number for traders
This intervention is combined with two other “elements” making up the short-term plan developed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A telephone number, 04.72.40.57.00, has been set up by the organization. It allows “immediately helping businesses”, underlines Régis Poly.
A guide to the steps to take to deal with the consequences of bad weather, to download from the organization’s website, has also been published.
The elected official went to Givors this Monday, October 21 to see the damage. He notes that the water has risen to 80 centimeters. “When she removes everything is on board, the mud, the waste”, causing various problems with “all the furniture on the floor which is out of order”, stock management or the remaining humidity and odor.
To compensate for these losses, Régis Poly announces that solidarity funds will be released. “We are in the process of seeing with the State if there cannot be additional funds.”
URSAFF and the Council of Self-Employed Workers are putting in place aid of 2,000 euros “which can be mobilized under conditions with a deferral of charges”, he also notes. For their part, the CCI and the CMA, for artisans, are developing a national aid fund “which will go down by region”.
The state of natural disaster at stake
In Givors, “around a hundred” businesses were weakened by bad weather, “the same number” in Rive-de-Gier while “forty” were affected in Brignais, lists Régis Poly. “In Givors, the Givors 2 commercial zone, there are practically no (businesses) that have been able to reopen,” continues the elected official, who adds that certain businesses affected by flooding in the city center were able to reopen at the end two to three days.
A delay which adds another problem for businesses, due to the taking into account of the operating loss which “only occurs from three days”. The other main subject for the elected official is the recognition of the state of natural disaster. “We are in an accelerated procedure, this state of natural disaster could occur within 15 days, which is much shorter than the usual deadlines.”
Fear of new floods
Since the establishment of the call number, Régis Poly reports that traders are “completely overwhelmed by events”, and recalls the steps to follow with the request for the passage of a bailiff, the taking of photos and videos and make an appointment for an expert to come before you can proceed with the cleaning and restoration of the buildings.
With the fear of further flooding at the end of the week, the outlook is darkening for traders in the Rhône. “They are worried, we are in a bad period, we are getting closer to the end of year holidays.”
