As a new heatwave grips France, the government is deploying for the first time an Orsec plan for “extreme heat.” This new framework must be activated in all departments under a red heat alert, including Paris and the entire Île-de-France region starting Saturday, July 11, 2026. But what does it actually entail?
The government spokesperson, Maud Bregeon, announced on Friday, July 10, the rollout of the Orsec plan for “extreme heat”. The scheme covers departments colored red by Météo-France, the level associated with an exceptional heatwave likely to affect the entire population and disrupt daily life.
A first version of this plan was unveiled on July 2, 2026, following an interministerial crisis cell dedicated to addressing the fallout from the previous heatwaves. The aim is to improve coordination among state services, prefectures, municipalities, social services and health agencies in the face of extreme temperatures.
The plan’s main measure is to identify and open cooling centers. These spaces must be cool, accessible, and well-equipped to temporarily shelter people who cannot adequately protect themselves at home.
According to information released by the government, these centers may include, in particular, resting beds, drinking water, first-aid kits, sanitary facilities and enhanced human supervision. A health check for the people admitted must also be carried out upon their arrival.
So it isn’t just a matter of occasionally opening a cooling room or a town hall during the day. The new framework is intended to deliver a more structured response for vulnerable people, adapting to the severity of the heatwave and the locally identified needs.
The plan prioritizes older adults who are isolated, homeless, disabled, or living with chronic illnesses. People living in homes that are particularly exposed to heat or lacking any cooling solutions may also be affected.
To identify these residents, prefects will have to collaborate with municipalities, local social-action centers, social services, and organizations such as the family allowances funds. The government wants particularly to improve cross-checking and updating the lists of vulnerable people.
Municipalities already maintain registers that allow seniors or people with disabilities living at home to inform authorities of their situation. They can also be included in these registers, under certain conditions, at the request of a family member or their legal guardian. These records enable city services to reach them during heatwaves.
Activating the Orsec "extreme heat" plan does not automatically mean that all activities or events are banned. The measures are locally tailored by the prefects based on the temperatures, the duration of the heat episode, and the risks observed in each department.
Restrictions may nonetheless be imposed on sporting activities, outdoor gatherings, certain working hours, or the movements of the most at-risk individuals. Events may also be postponed or cancelled when conditions cannot guarantee public safety.
In Île-de-France, meal deliveries offered by Uber Eats and Deliveroo must be paused notably from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 during the hottest hours. This separate measure aims to limit the exposure of bike and two-wheel delivery riders.
France already has a national system for managing health during heatwaves, activated each summer and adjusted to Météo-France’s alert levels. It includes enhanced health surveillance, public information campaigns, the mobilization of healthcare facilities, and protections for the most vulnerable.
The new Orsec plan goes further by coordinating a coordinated civil protection response for the most severe episodes. Orsec mechanisms are normally used to deal with natural disasters, major accidents, or crises that require the simultaneous mobilization of numerous public services.
Its activation thus allows prefects to coordinate more directly with local authorities, emergency services, health providers, associations, and public operators. The exact measures may vary from one department to another, depending on local conditions.
The government is proposing a tool to search for cool, publicly accessible places near your home. Cities can also publish their own maps listing libraries, museums, town halls, shopping centers, green spaces, swimming pools, or other public facilities open during heat waves.
In Paris, a map of cooling hubs lists hundreds of venues where you can temporarily seek shelter from the heat. However, hours and entry terms may be adjusted during the heatwave.
The free Canicule Info Service helpline, available at 0 800 06 66 66, also provides guidance on how to protect yourself and support vulnerable people. If you experience dizziness or ill feeling, confusion, a high fever, loss of consciousness, or signs of severe dehydration, call 15 or 112 immediately.
