A red warning of extremely heavy rain has been sent out for parts of southern Norway when the extreme weather “Hans” hits full force.
In Gran municipality, they have started evacuating the residents. Municipal manager for culture and society Leif Arne Vesteraas confirms this to NRK.
A river near the center of Jaren is to be cleaned up.
Employees of the municipality are now going from house to house on the slope above the center to help evacuate those who need it.
OVERWATER: There is a lot of water on the roads in Gran municipality due to the rainy weather.
Photo: Ann-Kristin Mo / NRK
– Loaded population
Mayor of Gran Randi Eek Thorsen says that five households have been evacuated so far.
But the municipality is prepared for the fact that this is something they have to make new assessments of all the time.
– It is a demanding situation, and it hurts to see. It is a population that is burdened right now, says the mayor.
The municipality has set up a crisis team, and receives assistance from both the Civil Defense and the Red Cross.
– The most important thing now is to limit damage and take care of those who need us the most, she says.
The main road into Gran municipality, highway 4, is closed in two places. The railway is also closed.
DEMANDING: Mayor Randi Eek Thorsen says that they are in a demanding situation.
Photo: Ann-Kristin Mo / NRK
Evacuate after landslide
On Monday evening, the neighboring municipality of Søndre Land informs Oppland Arbeiderblad that they are also in the process of evacuating residents.
According to councilor Arne Skogsbakken, there has been a landslide in Enger. He says that the extent of the landslide is unclear, and that they do not know how many people will have to be evacuated.
– It is an unclear situation, but we prioritize the evacuation of the households, says Skogsbakken to NRK.
In the first instance, those affected will be transported to Hov. The municipality is also considering whether some people should be sent to Gjøvik for hotel stays.
The crisis management in Søndre Land municipality will meet again later on Monday evening.
CENTER: According to preliminary warnings, the interior will be the center of the extreme weather.
Photo: Ann-Kristin Mo / NRK
Several evaluate continuously
Several municipalities are continuously considering whether they should do the same as Gran and Søndre Land.
The mayor of Vågå in Innlandet, Harald Sve Bjørndal, says that they are following the situation closely.
Two rivers flow through Vågåmo, which makes the center particularly prone to flooding.
– Now we are working and looking at how to get an evacuation as efficient as possible if we have to press that button, says the mayor.
He says that if it rains heavily during the evening, they may have to evacuate the city centre. Between 150 and 300 households may be affected.
– If the forecasts continue as we are doing now, we will come up with a friendly recommendation to perhaps take a trip to a cabin or visit friends and acquaintances, says Bjørndal.
ASSESSES: Mayor Harald Sve Bjørndal says that the municipality is closely monitoring the situation.
Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRK
Recommended by the police and the municipality
In Sunndal municipality in Møre og Romsdal, the municipality was split in two by several rock and soil landslides as recently as July.
The garden of Erling Snøva and Ida Ranheim Sæter at Snøva was heavily damaged. Now they fear a new round of destruction.
– The question is where it hits and how fast it comes. If what has been announced comes to pass, then I think it will be wonderful here on the farm, yes, says Snøva.
He says that their farm is particularly prone to landslides.
– It has been like this since the dawn of time. That’s how it is, and that’s how it will be until the mountains are flat.
They have been advised to evacuate by the police and the municipality, but they have not been forcibly evacuated.
The wife and their two children evacuate to Oppdal. Snøva doesn’t travel unless he has to, and stays home to take care of their animals
THE FAMILY EVACUATES: Farmer Erling Snøva is not going to evacuate unless he has to. The wife and children have all been evacuated.
Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / NRK
2023-08-07 17:44:53
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