The 3rd of November 2011, the Hérault River (France) reached a red vigilance level on the French flood-watch system whereas on the vigilance map issued by the French weather forecast agency (MétéoFrance) 3 Departments (Hérault, Aveyron, Lozère) and 5 Departments (Tarn, Bouches-du-Rhône, Haute-Loire, Gard et Ardèche) respectively reached the red and orange vigilance levels with respect to serious flood risks.
The red vigilance level was triggered upriver due a “confirmed intensification of precipitation expected for the end of the afternoon and the following night” according to a Météo France communiqué.
On the same day, the pre-operational GMES Emergency Management Service powered by the SAFER project was triggered at 22:57 (UTC) by the French Civil Protection.
Based on Cosmo-Skymed imagery, a first Disaster Extent Map was produced on 5 November 2011.
- Flood Extent Map
(Credits SAFER/SERTIT)