Is Paris drowning? Paris on red alert: Seine rises to its highest level in three decades.

[Surya Gayatri]

- 19ft above normal - amid torrential rain that has killed 14 across France, Germany and Belgium.

- Parisians urged to avoid banks of the river Seine and Louvre museum shuts doors to evacuate priceless artwork.
- Horserider swept away to his death by flood water near capital as deadly floods wreak havoc in France and Germany.


A swollen River Seine, which had burst its banks in some areas close to the Eiffel Tower, which was also shrouded in cloud


Some towns in central France have been hit by their worst floods in over a century, with more than 5,000 people evacuated since the weekend and around 19,000 homes without power. This was the scene in Paris yesterday


Emergency crews push a boat during a rescue operation in a flooded area of Nemours, Paris. French Environment Minister Segolene Royal said she feared more bodies would be found as waters recede in French villages which have seen main streets turned into muddy rivers


Cars parked under the Asnieres bridge were submerged in the wake of the heavy rains in Asnieres, a northern suburb of Paris


Residents and visitors to Paris were unable to go for a stroll along the banks of the River Seine as flooding cut off pavements and roads


In the Loire Valley, a lake of floodwater gathered in front of the Chateau of Chambord, causing a watery reflection of the much-visited 16th century castle

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3623422/Paris-red-alert-Seine-rises-highest-level-three-decades-19ft-normal-priceless-art-evacuated-Louvre-amid-torrential-rain-killed-10-France-Germany.html

_________________________________

Damn, France (and the heart of Europe) just can't catch a break. This once-in-a-generation flood is the last thing we need after the recent terrorist attacks and the labour unrest that's still on-going.

Fortunately, I have nothing to fear, as I live in the east of the city near the "hill" that forms the "Cimetière du Père Lachaise". But, the "caves" (cellars) in many apartment buildings are flooding, which means they'll have to be emptied, cleaned and disinfected.

[BeyondGeography]

1. That Bir Hakeim shot up top is so freaky

The Allée des Cygnes is almost underwater, too. That's where I took my ballades for a couple of years when I lived in the 15th and went to the American College. Never saw anything like that. Happy to hear you're fine.

[Surya Gayatri]

3. At least the famous "Zouave" isn't under water, not yet anyway.

Crue à Paris : ne vous fiez pas au Zouave du Pont de l'Alma !
Les Parisiens scrutent les épaules de la statue, qui sert de repère pour comparer les grandes crues de la Seine. Mais le zouave n'est plus ce qu'il était...

http://www.lepoint.fr/societe/crue-a-paris-ne-vous-fiez-pas-au-zouave-du-pont-de-l-alma-03-06-2016-2044120_23.php



Traffic is, of course, a nighmare. When the "berges du Seine" are closed, and everything is moved up top, good luck getting around in the city center.

I didn't know you'd lived in Paris. Did you fall in love with her? I have an old friend who used to teach photography at the American College.

[GliderGuider]

7. I fell in love with a girl who was going to the American College

when I lived in Paris for a year in 1967-1968. I still have two cobblestones from a May barricade that I keep as souvenirs. These photos are deeply shocking and heartbreaking.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Who knew? I first came to Paris to visit in June 1968. Fell in love with the Lady by the Seine then,

and came back several years later to make her my permanent home.

I have one of those cube-shaped cobblestones in a big planter with my house plants! LOL! That kind of traditional paving is a dying art, but it's still used in many places around Paris.

Tough to see the venerable old Lady suffering, not to mention many provinces of France.

[k8conant]

51. I lived in Paris from August to December 1969.

My favorite places were Montmartre and the Pont des Arts.

[BeyondGeography]

8. I call it the most beautiful man-made place on earth

I spent four years there in all, from the ages of 20-24. After I graduated I went to Langues' O and studied Japanese, pour le plaisir (it was either that or come home to Reagan). As you might imagine, the whole experience, since it had to end, both broke my heart and strengthened me for life. Love it? Profondément.

[Surya Gayatri]

10. A constant and endless treat for the senses. She never ceases to delight.

Couldn't agree more--the most beautiful, harmonious human construction on earth.

[OceanPete]

22. The 1954 Zouave

Grew up in Paris and shot this during the 1954 flooding. These were the original Zouaves used to measure the Seine's height, they have since rebuilt the bridge, but reinstalled one of the the original statues!

[mnhtnbb]

2. Awful. Just awful.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. We're cold and wet! The central heat is still on in my building. And, a good thing, too.

[liberal N proud]

4. Sounds really bad

[Surya Gayatri]

6. People are in a foul mood, too. May is supposed to have the

most beautiful weather of the year. Write off!

[Laughing Mirror]

45. May is always cold in Paris

June can be chilly too, as it is now. I live with cold hands here, and always have to wear shoes and socks to keep feet from being cold, except for during maybe two weeks in July.

Paris is generally cool and gray most of the year. But when it has a beautiful day, it tends to have a string of them in a row, and you really see how the mood of the people changes when the weather is nice. The Latin side of the culture comes out.

[Surya Gayatri]

46. First part of the month, sometimes. But, from about Pentecôte on, it's often very nice. Even hot.

This year, there was a run of hottish days in early May and then 'whoosh', in came the rain.

How many years have you been here? I've been here 30+ years, so have seen heat waves you wouldn't believe.

The summer of 2003 comes to mind! Whoa!

The arrière saison is often unseasonably warm--mid-September to mid-October.

[Laughing Mirror]

56. Hottish days in early May?

Are you serious? It never even got to 25° yet, the whole month of May. I have a thermometer outside my window I look at every day. And I live in Paris III, right smack dab in the center, which may even be warmer than where you are.

I don't what you call hot. Hot to me is above 30° with humidity above 50. You never see that here. If the temp is above 30, there won't be any humidity.

As for September or October. Again, are you serious? Starting in August it starts getting cold again.

The heat spell in summer of 2003 was exceptional. That kind of thing rarely happens in France.

Why do you think nobody has air conditioners here? You don't need them, that's why.

[Surya Gayatri]

57. YMMV. For me, anything above 22°C is hot in the city, in a south facing flat.

Having come from a purely continental climate, I quickly became acclimated to the less radical temperature swings of a maritime climate.

More and more people are getting air conditioners. I've even looked into one myself. I live on the fourth floor and heat definitely rises.

In my experience, Sept. and Oct. often have températures au dessus des normales saisonnières. That's why they call it the "arrière saison". The summer you didn't get earlier can show up then.

In a word, yes, I was perfectly serious. About my personal experience, that is. As I say, YMMV.

[Laughing Mirror]

59. Well sure in a south-facing flat it's going to heat up

Go outside in the shade and see how hot you are. That's where the temperature is taken, in the shade.

Well I'm going to go out now and try to dry out the plants on the terrace. Hard to do, when the temperature says 15,7°. A real scorcher it's going to be today.

[Hoppy]

11. "Once-in-a-generation" --- that is probably no longer correct.

I had a house on the banks of the Delaware. There were geodetic surveys indicating it was a lower elevation site of 100 year flooding. We sold it after the third "100 year flood" in 5 years.

As the ice caps melt, the water will go somewhere.

[Surya Gayatri]

13. It's been thirty years since the last "grand crue". But, climate change will certainly

increase the chances of extreme weather events.

In fact, if you look at maps of projected sea rise, by 2100 the North Sea will have moved half way up the Seine watershed, and Paris will end up 100 km. closer to the "coast".

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Paris is the New Venice

Buy stock in gondola manufacturers!

[Surya Gayatri]

14. Much cooler climate, though. June 2nd and the central building heat is still on!

[bucolic_frolic]

41. What an offensively crude ethnic stereotype

I see nothing humorous about it.

[Hoppy]

44. It is meant to be a swipe against Uber.

[PersonNumber503602]

47. You were alerted on earlier because of it...

On Fri Jun 3, 2016, 01:26 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Or if you learn to sing, "Ass-hole'a Mia," you can get a job as an Uber gondolier.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7877324

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

I am part Italian, I find this stereotype offensive, I give the poster points for creativity and an attempt at humor, but I find nothing humorous about "Ass-hole'a Mia" as a takeoff on the famous Italian song O Sole Mio

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Jun 3, 2016, 01:35 PM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's kind of dopey, but not offensive. My Italian extended family would find it humorous.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I also am part Italian and don't find this offensive.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: After reading that post I found myself shaking and in tears. I cannot believe how hurtful some people can be. I'm literally having a panic attack over this. This is basically assault.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Rude and offensively childish. Ethnic stereotyping in the worst way. Prejudice against Uber drivers as if they are all the same.

Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not humorous, but not offensive enough to consider a hide.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[truebrit71]

15. Those are amazing images...

That is a crap-tonne of water...

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Yeah, when you think how much the American southwest and other regions need it so badly, it just

doesn't seem fair.

[truebrit71]

18. Right?

I was just thinking the same thing....

[AllyCat]

17. Oh Goodness! Hope all are staying safe.

What a mess.

[Surya Gayatri]

20. Paris sous la flotte. Ras le bol !

Paris under water. Fed up!

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Surya Gayatri.

[Surya Gayatri]

23. A sad pleasure, Uncle Joe. My home city is drowning!

[Bad Dog]

24. Glad youy're OK.

My brother's holidaying in France right now. Typical, rain and a petrol shortage. The weather is really nice this side of the channel.

[Surya Gayatri]

27. Just cold and damp. My hair is naturally curly and in this

humidity, totally out of control.

Sorry about your brother's holiday. WASH OUT!

Normally, May is one of the most enjoyable months of the year.

But, apparently, the Gulf Stream is acting up because of El Niño, and we're taking the brunt.

Strange that the UK didn't get pounded as well. So often, the Home Counties and northern France get the same weather.

[Bad Dog]

34. You're right.

Usually the French mock us for all our rain. It makes a change for it to be the other way round.

[Warpy]

53. Dunno about that, Le Figaro had a video about flooding in York

so the weather system has managed to drench everybody in much of Europe. It's not over yet, the BBC weather guy was uncharacteristically gloomy about the prospects for an end to the rain, although he did say it would move around a bit.

[LittleGirl]

25. Bonjour

I'm over in Basel and it's a mess over here too. They have the heat on too! It's so dark out that I need lights on in the apartment most of the day. Record breaking rain here for a couple of months now. They had to cancel river cruises because the rivers are so high that the boats can't get under the bridges. Freight is affected on the Rhine too.

Stay dry!

[Surya Gayatri]

28. Misery loves company, I guess! I know what you mean about "dark".

This morning it was darker than in deepest winter. Enough already.

Parisians are in a similarly dark mood.

Toi aussi, reste au sec !

[Marrah_G]

26. This is so sad

[smirkymonkey]

29. Unbelievable! So sad to see.

Stay safe everyone!

[brer cat]

30. I'm glad you are safe, Surya Gayatri!

I feel so for those in harm's way.

[Surya Gayatri]

31. Thanks, brer cat. I'm fine, if a little cold and damp.

Temps are 8-10° C below seasonal norms.

[Dustlawyer]

32. I live in Southeast Texas and I know just how the Parisians feel right this minute!

I am watching the flood while typing this wondering if we will survive til Tuesday when we are supposed to finally see the sun again.

My wife and I honeymooned in London and had what was supposed to be a day trip to Paris. We left very early on the train and arrived at Guierre de Norde train station where a guide picked up us and 3 other couples for a half day tour and a half day free time before being brought back to the train station. When we arrived and our guide about to leave for his hot date he had, we noticed the electronic sign out front telling us a fire near the tracks outside of London had stopped all trains. We realized we needed a hotel and our guide hooked us up with one in walking distance before they were all booked up.

My wife and I then went back to the station to try to find a way back. We split up so I could get a phone card to call our kids while she tried to deal with the train company. I turned down a request by a local TV station for an interview, did my business and rejoined my wife who was in a heated arguement with the stereotypical snooty French Eurostar representative (not all French people are snooty). The TV station was filming the exchange and I stood back smiling at the absurdity of it all. After the representative walked off in a huff the reporter stuck the microphone in my face and said, "i noticed that you were smiling during the whole time that your wife and the Eurostar representative were having their arguement, pourquoi (how come)?" I replied, "We are on our honeymoon and now stranded in Paris, the city of love. I am not worried, it's how you say, C'est la Vie!" as I threw out my hands.

We eventually got back to London with the other couples being our new friends. It only took 6 buses, 5 trains, and a 3 hour ferry ride to the White cliffs of Dover, England. We saw a lot more of France than we bargained for and took pictures of our group at each change of transportation. It was a great adventure!

When we walked to the train station that morning to begin our odyssey, some people noticed me and started shouting "C'est la vie, C'est la vie!!!" Hundreds of people started shouting it loudly and shaking our hands and hugging us. Our fellow travelers were confused until my wife explained what happened the evening before. It is one of my most favorite memories!

[Surya Gayatri]

33. Glad it all came out right in the end...C'est la vie, indeed!

Keep your life vests at the ready there in SE Texas.

They say El Niño's responsible for the upheaval.

[trudyco]

48. Do you know what happened to the soldiers who had their vehicle overturned in the flood?

Last I heard there were still 6 missing.

[Dustlawyer]

50. I had heard they found several of them in the truck. I don't know how many.

[KamaAina]

35. La Vielle-Orleans?

[Surya Gayatri]

37. Don't know if the original Orléans is under water or not. But, the Loire and Loiret Rivers

have burst their banks, so it's entirely possible. Orléans is at the head of the Loire Valley.

[LeftishBrit]

36. Best thoughts to all!

[Surya Gayatri]

38. Thanks. For once we're getting a lot more rain than you Brits.

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. Houston can commiserate.

People who had just had their floors ripped out from the last flood have had all of the new work destroyed. I'm about to lose my mind.

[Surya Gayatri]

40. Solidarity...hope people have some kind of flood insurance.

[JDPriestly]

42. My youngest was born in the Hospital Cochin near the Tour Eiffel.

Beloved city.

[Surya Gayatri]

43. Hôpital Cochin...know it well. I was hospitalized there a number of years ago.

A really old hospital where they've done a good job of modernizing.

How long ago did you move back to the States?

[Hekate]

49. Stay safe, Surya.

[Gomez163]

52. GET TO THAT TOWER

[Rex]

54. Parts of Texas are going underwater too.

Never seen anything like this.

[kentauros]

55. However,

I haven't seen flash-flood scenarios in Texas like this one from Germany:

That is, unless someone managed to get video of the Blanco River flood from last year.

I see, too, from that video that there are some German drivers who are just as ill-informed about not driving into flood waters as here...

[Rex]

62. I didn't know about Germany yikes!

Although I have heard Paris is almost underwater!

[kentauros]

64. Yeah, the Seine is out of its banks by over 6 meters!

That's about twenty feet. Imagine the Brazos being that high...

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. Have they given you boil water orders?

If not consider boiling drinking water for 20 minutes anyway. It is a precaution in flood zones around the world, even if you are not next to it.

And can I say it, can I? Climate Change

[Laughing Mirror]

60. Paris is not flooded, the streets are clear

It is only the banks of the Seine that have overflowed a bit. Maybe a few people on houseboats have been affected.

In short, it's not the dire situation these blaring headlines would have you believe. No problem with the water supply. It's basically typical weather here, this time of year. Only we got 6 weeks worth of rain in the space of three days. So it will take awhile for all the overflow to melt back into the terrain.

I'm talking about Paris itself. Other cities have indeed some of their streets flooded. The president announced a national emergency because of this.

[Rex]

63. That is good to know, I saw pictures of Paris but maybe they were other parts of France.

Not as if reporting is at it's peek perfection.

[burrowowl]

61. K&R!!!!!!