Climate Migrants: The Tragic Story of Pensioners Anne and Jean Birault
Pensioners Anne and Jean Birault became climate migrants 12 years ago, after one night in La Faute-sur-Mer changed their lives forever. Living by the sea, they were accustomed to storms being a part of life. However, on the night of 28 February, 2010, a forecasted storm turned into a catastrophic event that would alter the course of their lives.
The forecast predicted strong winds and some rain for La Faute-sur-Mer, a French town that protrudes into the Atlantic Ocean like a sandbar. Anne and Jean took their usual precautions, securing their belongings in preparation for the storm. Everything seemed calm when they went to bed that night.
In the middle of the night, Anne was awakened by the sound of leaking water. As she investigated, she saw a wall of water 1.5m high, pushing against their door and windows. She realized that the sea was invading their home and knew they had only 15 minutes to escape. Thanks to a neighbor, François Anil, who had warned them about the dangers of sea flooding, Anne and Jean managed to escape.
Tragically, 29 of their neighbors in La Faute-sur-Mer lost their lives that night, succumbing to the floodwaters in what became known as “la cuvette de la mort” – the basin of death. The storm, named Xynthia, was a perfect storm of hurricane-force winds, surging seas, and driving rain that wreaked havoc across western coasts of France and Spain, even reaching Germany, leaving devastation in its wake.
The destructive impact of Xynthia was exacerbated by climate change, which has led to a rise in sea levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that sea levels could rise by a meter by 2100, posing a significant threat to coastal communities like La Faute-sur-Mer.
In the aftermath of the storm, many residents had to rebuild their lives. Elisabeth Tabary, who lost her husband and grandson in the flood, struggled to come to terms with the tragedy. Others, like hairdresser Adeline Baffart, had to relocate to safer areas, leaving behind their homes and memories.
The blame for the disaster was placed on local authorities and the former mayor of La Faute-sur-Mer, René Marratier, who was found guilty of manslaughter for failing to implement proper flood risk prevention measures. The tragedy prompted a national reflection on risk management and the need to better protect coastal communities from the impacts of climate change.
Despite the town’s efforts to rebuild and fortify against future disasters, the memories of that fateful night still haunt Anne and Jean. For them, the pain and trauma of the event were too much to bear, leading them to leave behind their home and start anew in a safer location.
The story of Anne and Jean Birault serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of climate change and the urgent need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable communities from future disasters. As climate migrants, they represent a growing population of individuals forced to uproot their lives due to the changing climate, underscoring the importance of addressing the root causes of environmental displacement.