title: Recent evolution of natural hazard management policy in France, the example of Serre-Chevalier (French Alps).
abstract: Since the 1960s, the development of the Serre-Chevalier winter and summer resort has led to a rapid extension of the urban fabric on the territory of the village of St-Chaffrey. On July 9, 1981, the new neighborhoods built on the alluvial fan of the Verdarel torrent were partly devastated by a channeled debris flow. This disaster prompted the civil authorities to set up an extensive fluvial regulation system, which rapidly contributed to recreating a climate of confidence and security favorable to continuing urban expansion. The combination of catastrophic floods in July 1995, and a new security-oriented national policy on natural hazards, nevertheless led to a return to precautionary measures. The St-Chaffrey town council has therefore been forced by the State to accept a building-free zone on the land-use plan. This measure is perceived as a real denial of the local efficacy of the flood and landslide risk management policy as carried out by the council of St-Chaffrey during the previous 20 years.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Géomorphologie et Gestion des Milieux Naturels, UFR de Géographie et d'Aménagement Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, F59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq cedex, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flez
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lahousse
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D004779:Environment Design; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D011998:Recreation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012637:Security Measures