The flood refugees in Nesbyen still live in suitcases. – It is very difficult to take in what is actually written in this letter, says May Kristin Riise. Riise is one of 149 residents who have received the advance notice of a building and subdivision ban from Nesbyen municipality. The flood that inundated Nesbyen on 8 August made dozens of homes uninhabitable. Seven weeks later, many are still in temporary housing while they wait to rebuild. Now it is no longer a question of when they will be allowed to come home, but whether they will be allowed to come home at all. The family of May Kristin Riise has lived in shopping nets and gym bags since the flood. The family of four finds it difficult to find the motivation to persevere. They want to go home. – I wonder what they think will happen to us, who live somewhat temporarily and is on hold. Limbo in Nesbyen There is a varying extent of damage to the houses in the center of Nesbyen. The municipality itself says that they do not have an overview of how many houses have been affected. Many have to rebuild entire floors before they can move back home. If the ban is adopted, they risk having to move. In the event of a building and subdivision ban, there will be special requirements for flood protection at the homeowner’s expense, in the case of work subject to an application. The advance warning means that Nesbyen’s flood refugees live in the suitcase indefinitely. – This is not something I want to relive. It’s so heavy. Both physical and mental. Magnus Brennhovd sits in a corner, studying what is left of his residential dream. A mirror, a mute waiter and some unopened beers. The twenty-year-old bought his first house this summer. Now he is back in the boys’ room. Just a month after he moved in, Nesbyen was under water. The house was completely damaged. He has spent the time after the flood demolishing the damage in the house. – The most important thing for me is to get back to everyday life again, and to have my own place when I get home from work. Brennhovd prioritizes feeling safe, and is open to moving around. But he, like many others, is afraid of how it will play out financially. It will be up to each individual home owner’s insurance company to cover the costs of building up the homes elsewhere. In the advance warning, which applies to 170 properties, it is stated: “A final decision on building and subdivision bans may be a prerequisite for being able to obtain a full insurance settlement for the entire property, for those affected who cannot move back to their own house.” Can’t floodproof everyone Svein Magne Bråten Juvhaugen, emergency manager in Nesbyen municipality. Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news – The municipality has worked closely with NVE to ensure that the same thing will not happen again, says Svein Magne Bråten Juvhaugen. He is emergency manager in the municipality. Juvhaug believes that some will be relieved to have to move. – The weather will be more unstable, and the floods will come more often. So I would also think that some people would think it would be safer to be able to live a little longer on the slopes, he says. Some homeowners will have to move, not all homes can be saved by flood embankments and erosion protection. Photo: Thomas Mørch It is the municipality that works with the building and subdivision ban. NVE has looked at other flood protection measures. The sum of all the measures determines how many people will have to move. Jan Eirik Hønsi, senior engineer at NVE. Photo: NVE – We already see that there are a number of buildings that are so prone to flooding that it is unlikely that we will be able to secure them, says Jan Eirik Hønsi, senior engineer at NVE. NVE is looking at the possibility of security measures along Rukkedøla, and is investigating the possibility of building a flood embankment through the centre. There will be complaints It is not certain that all 149 homeowners will be affected by a final decision. Those affected can provide feedback on the proposal until 10 October. It is the municipal council that decides whether the building and subdivision ban is adopted. – I will submit a complaint anyway, to be on the safe side. I have no idea if the insurance will cover exactly this in another place in Nesbyen. Dan Johansen Lundhaug has a four-acre plot with a large house, double garage and a proper workshop. Lundhaug sleeps in an empty house for sale further up in Nesbyen, while he waits for an answer from the municipality. The flood has destroyed both his home, his garage and his workshop. He has driven around Hallingdal to rescue parts and tools that were taken from the water. He is afraid that he will not get the workshop approved, covered, and built – if he has to build another place. – I have probably spent several hours in the workshop here, than I have inside the house itself. I must have a workshop. – There is too much that is unclear for me to agree to being forcibly relocated, concludes Lundhaug. Heated discussion at information meeting On Thursday 28 September, an information meeting was held for those affected by the proposal. Here, Nesbyen municipality and NVE explained what they had been working on since the extreme weather. The aim is to secure Nesbyen for a 200-year flood. Many had turned up to find out what will happen to their homes. Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news Many expressed uncertainty and confusion about the advance warning. Several were critical of both the proposal and the procedure. Jeanette Kaspersen, service manager in Nesbyen municipality. Photo: Lykke Frida Synnøve Høyås / news Jeanette Kaspersen, head of service in Nesbyen municipality, was prepared that there would be different reactions from those affected. – I understand that some are critical. It is important to remember that this is just a notification that we are dealing with this type of case management. The resolution proposal is scheduled to be considered in the municipal council in November. Hi!Thanks for reading the whole thing.Do you have any thoughts to share? Or have you experienced something similar? Or are you perhaps sitting on another story that you think we should cover? Send me an email, I’d love to hear from you.
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Proposes a building ban in Nesbyen after the extreme weather Hans – 149 homeowners may be forcibly relocated – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
