– It was a sad sight. When it was at its highest, I had to walk on a plank to get in with dry shoes, says Axel Ranvik to news. Axel Ranvik chose to become a farmer when the municipality called for evacuation in connection with the Storelva overflowing its banks. Photo: Private While “Hans” was ravaged by extreme weather, he was one of many residents in Hønefoss who were told to evacuate. But Ranvik refused. Instead, he chose to live in the block in Schjongs gate on his own responsibility. As chairman of the cooperative, he felt a responsibility to take care. The block he lives in was built to withstand a 200-year flood, according to Aftenposten. – I don’t think it was scary because it has been embarrassing many times before. And this is not the last time, he says. Residents in several areas in Hønefoss, including around Schjongs gate, were evacuated during the flood. Photo: Christine Breivik Øen / news A lesson Brigt Samdal is director of the landslide and watercourse department at NVE. He thinks “Hans” should be a thought-provoking week for many municipalities. – I think this will be a lesson for many actors in society. Especially for the municipalities, there will certainly be many learning points. And we have to take that with us, he says. Brigt Samdal, director of the avalanche and watercourse department in NVE. Photo: Anders Fehn / news Because even if many areas have been developed within current requirements and regulations, such as where Axel Ranvik lives, one should perhaps look with new eyes at how one builds housing in the future. Samdal shows NVE his statistics for the last few years, and at the same time forecasts for the years to come: More rain, and increasingly intense rain. – We have to take this into the administration, so that we take care of it. And set requirements, so that we avoid new buildings being exposed to this type of incident in the future, says Samdal. – Must take climate adaptation seriously He receives support from Berit Time, chief researcher at Sintef. She believes that many municipalities will plan roads and housing in a different way in the future. – On a general basis, one can say that in some municipalities both roads and housing have probably been built in areas where they would not have been built had they been planned today. Berit Time is chief researcher at Sintef. Photo: Privat – What should the municipal politicians who are now standing for election take up in relation to this? – Firstly; to raise this topic up on the agenda. Some, call it attractive or nice, areas with buildings are also demanding areas in a different climate with more rain. So you have to take this with climate adaptation seriously, says Time. The chief researcher believes that the municipalities must carry out new and thorough risk assessments for areas to be developed, so as to prevent building into new problems. Uncertain future In Schjongs gate in Hønefoss, Axel Ranvik’s neighbors have moved back to their flats. Blokka has made it through the embarrassment. But even so, several of the residents have gotten a kick out of it. – There are people who have doubts, who say “No, now I’m moving.” I don’t dare this any more”. To the far right of the picture you can see the flaumsteinen that was set up in the Storelva 25 years ago. Photo: Christine Breivik Øen / news
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– This embarrassment should be a lesson – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
