© RTThis long time exposure picture taken on January 2, 2014 shows the city center of the western city of Quimperle flooded by the Laita river. Britanny is placed under flood warning due to heavy rains and high tidal coefficient.
On a visit to Brittany - the region worst affected by Storm Dirk - Valls recognised that an "error" had been made in forecasting and preparing for the bad weather.
Tens of thousands of homes were left without power over the festive period as fierce winds brought down by power lines and rivers flooded.
Valls has ordered préfets to assess the full extent of the damage in their department and try to ascertain why a higher level of warning was not issued.
© RTResidents in the department of Finistère, Brittany, were warned of severe flood hazard Thursday evening.
The state will also set up its own compensation fund for those who had to be rehoused. "The president is keen for everything to be done as quickly as possible," Valls said.
He urged Brittany residents to remain vigilant - as more rain is forecast for the region over the coming days.
Other regions of France were also affected by the ferocity of Storm Dirk. There has been substantial flooding in the Loire-Atlantique, power cuts in the Rhône-Alpes region and air travel in Nice was severely disrupted on Christmas Day.
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