– We have been here every day to see if the water has gone down, so that a pump can come to dry it up, says Jeanette Koch Gulhaugen. She and her family of eight evacuated on their own initiative on the night of 10 August when water seeped into the laundry room. Since then they have lived somewhere other than their home in Hokksund. And it looks like they’ll have to wait a little longer. The new flood that is coming now has passed the flood peak during the extreme weather “Hans” at Mjøndalen bridge in the Drammensvassdraget. NVE fears that the water level will rise another 30–40 centimeters. – Instead of things going down and us being able to rebuild, we are back to the start, says Koch Gulhaugen. Even though her property is full of water, Jeanette Koch Gulhaugen keeps her spirits up. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news Easter 2024, or later Because of all the water that came in connection with the extreme weather “Hans”, the family cannot live in their house. Koch Gulhaugen says that they have been refurbishing the house for 13 years. The insurance company, which is looking after the restoration of their house, said they might be able to move back at Easter next year. Here the water flows into the hallway and living room: – We have lots of small fish swimming on the stairs But that was before they got water in the living room again. – It won’t be this side of Christmas. They said April at the latest a week ago. I don’t have faith in that now, she says. Although the whole situation is tiring, Koch Gulhaugen has no doubts when she is asked if she will move back again. – No problem. I will live here until I go to a nursing home, she says. On Sunday, Jeanette Koch Gulhaugen found a fish in one of her dresser drawers. The fish was released. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news Limit of 3.5 meters A red danger warning has been issued for parts of the Drammensvassdraget. Forecasts from NVE show that the water level will continue to rise throughout the day on both Monday and Tuesday. The peak of the flood is expected on Wednesday. Drammen municipality’s flood protection is 3.5 metres. If the water overflows, several residents will have water in their basements and roads will be closed, according to the mayor of Drammen, Monica Myrvold berg (Ap). Drammen municipality has set up flood defenses in the Krokstadelva. Photo: Jan-Erik Wilthil / news Emergency management manager in the municipality, Sten Petter Aamodt, hopes the forecasts are not 100 percent correct. He says there is no question of evacuating people in the Drammens area now, but: – We cannot rule it out, says Aamodt. Drammen has set up a crisis team: Fears that the flood protection will not last
ttn-69