An Orsec “extreme heat” plan triggered
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced on Friday July 10 the triggering of an “Orsec extreme heat plan which did not exist in the past” in the departments placed by Météo France on red heatwave vigilance.
“The objective of this Orsec extreme heat plan, which did not exist in the past, is to take into account the feedback from the last waves”, in particular the fact that “the most vulnerable people, those who are alone, often in town, often elderly, suffer more excess mortality than the rest of the population”, explained the spokesperson on TF1.
The plan provides for the opening of “dedicated centers, protection centers, refreshment centers” for “vulnerable people”, in particular the elderly but also, according to Maud Bregeon, “the homeless”.
6,000 air conditioners installed in hospitals
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon assured that of the 30,000 air conditioners announced by the Prime Minister, 6,000 had “already been delivered and installed” in hospitals. “The rest arrives gradually”, depending on requests, she assured. Sébastien Lecornu must chair an interministerial crisis unit devoted to this new heatwave in the morning.
24 departments on red alert on Saturday
Twenty-four departments in the north-west quarter of France will be placed on heatwave red alert on Saturday, Météo France predicts on Friday, and 56 others in orange, as part of the third heatwave to hit the country in two months.
“Saturday afternoon, the maximums are between 35 and 38 degrees in most regions, with peaks at 39 degrees in the Loire Valley. Only the Mediterranean rim, the Channel coasts, and Hauts-de-France remain below 35 degrees,” detailed the organization in its 6:00 a.m. bulletin on Friday, indicating that the episode “continues until the middle of next week at least.”
