5. Natural hazard prevention in France

5.1 French doctrine

It's worth recalling that France has gradually developed a doctrine of risk management, at the same time as a legislative and regulatory framework was being drawn up. Plans de Surfaces Submersibles (PSS) were created in 1935. The perimeters of risk defined by article R.111-3 of the town planning code in 1961 referred to the fact that "construction on land exposed to risks such as flooding, erosion, subsidence, landslides and avalanches may, if authorized, be subject to special conditions". In 1967, the Land Orientation Act instituted the Plan d'Occupation des Sols (POS), creating the notion of ND zones protected in particular against natural hazards.

However, it was in 1972 that the prevention of natural hazards, and especially of ground...