Residents of the Double region in southwestern France have been without internet and telephone service for more than two weeks following the passage of Storm Nils on February 12th and 13th. The storm felled trees and branches, severing lines – many of which are not buried – and leaving communities isolated.
Véronique, a resident of the affected area for 37 years, described cables lying across the road near Échourgnac. “Everyone is driving over them,” she said, adding that residents have been warned not to touch the downed lines. She expressed frustration with the lack of clear information, stating that inquiries to Périgord numérique, Nouvelle-Aquitaine very high speed (NATHD), the prefecture, and Orange have yielded little progress. “We don’t get any information. Or if we do, it’s just to be told ‘it’s not me, it’s the other one.’”
Dominique Mathieu and his sister, Marie-Line Mathieu-Benourdja, are concerned for their 80-year-old mother, Francine, who recently underwent heart surgery and lives alone. Marie-Line Mathieu-Benourdja recounted that their mother had to call emergency services twice in December and fears a similar situation without a functioning phone line. “It’s a failure to assist someone in danger,” she said. Dominique Mathieu has been visiting his mother more frequently to ensure her well-being and assist with medical appointments, which she is currently unable to schedule independently.
Many residents lack cellular service, falling within “white zones” where coverage is unavailable. Whereas Orange has provided some residents with Airbox devices that utilize 4G connectivity, Francine Mathieu’s home is among those without service.
The disruption is similarly impacting local businesses. Hélène Raynaud, the secretary at the town hall – also without internet or phone – is relying on a 4G connection when available to carry out her duties. “The funeral home is waiting for a document I can’t send them,” she said. Mayor Serge Durand acknowledged the frustration of residents but stated that the situation is beyond the town’s control. “We are being shaken up by the residents. But People can only wait. We are given an intervention date, then it is postponed. The technicians are overwhelmed.”
Solenne Saunier and Rémy Puicercus, owners of the La P’tite Table d’Alix restaurant, are operating solely on reservations, a system hampered by the lack of phone service. “We’ve missed reservations,” Puicercus said. They must travel to areas with cellular coverage to check for messages. The restaurant also cannot accept card payments without internet access. Saunier emphasized the impact on elderly and isolated residents as the most concerning aspect of the outage.
According to Météo-France, Storm Nils traversed the south of France between February 11th and 13th, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall. The storm generated an exceptional avalanche risk in the Alps, with wind gusts reaching 185 km/h in Cagnano, Corsica, and 180 km/h in Caixas, Pyrénées-Orientales. The storm was the third major winter storm to hit France this season, following Benjamin in October 2025 and Goretti in January 2026.
The combined impact of Storms Nils and Pedro, which struck on February 19th, is estimated at €1.2 billion in damages, according to a statement released on March 2nd by France Assureurs and CCR, the French reinsurance group. France Assureurs estimates storm damage at €900 million, while CCR estimates flood damage at €290 million under the natural disaster scheme.
