| The Lux district, near Chalon-sur-Saône, is very near one of the branches of the Saône River, which crosses this part of the Burgundy region. Since time immemorial, it has been a capricious river, rising regularly from its bed and stretching over the surrounding plains: but, as compensation, the rich meadows are favorable to livestock farming. Yet, floods are rarely considered to be a source of wealth. In the first third of 2001, because rainfall greatly exceeded the norm, floods seriously affected several French departments, especially in the Somme region. As with all natural catastrophes, floods cause costly damages, which fall partly under the responsibility of the community, and partly the insurance companies. But how can you evaluate the price of the distress of inhabitants, whose houses are more and more often being ruined by floods? Moreover, after these events, fingers have been pointed at town development and the fact that building has been permitted in flood regions. It is in fact urgent that we consider these issues, since, with the predicted change in climate, rainfall should increase greatly in coming years in France.
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