5 September 2023
How Eidsvoll town centre was protected as water levels rose
On 10 August 2023, during the severe flooding caused by Storm Hans, the municipality of Eidsvoll decided to install temporary flood barriers in the town centre. At the time, water levels in Lake Mjøsa were rising by approximately 2.5 centimetres per hour, and forecasts indicated that levels were expected to continue increasing significantly. The municipality feared the flooding could reach levels similar to the major flood of 1995.
The technical department acted quickly to secure vulnerable areas before the water reached buildings and critical infrastructure. Already back in 2018, Eidsvoll municipality had invested in Haawal’s solution for mobile flood protection, specifically to ensure a fast and effective response in situations like this. Compared to traditional sandbags, the system can be installed in a short time and provides reliable protection even as water pressure increases.
A solution ready when the flood arrived
As water levels continued to rise during Storm Hans, the water reached the temporary barrier line in the town centre. With pumps safely positioned behind the flood barrier, the team managed to hold the water back and prevent major damage.
One of the buildings the municipality was particularly relieved to protect was the new service building in the centre of Eidsvoll.
This real-life situation demonstrates how mobile flood protection gives municipalities valuable time and flexibility when conditions change rapidly and decisions must be made quickly.
Experience from a real flood event
According to an article published by Eidsvoll Ullensaker Blad, municipal employee Hjell described the situation as follows:
Since I started working for the municipality, I have never received so much praise during a shift. With a twinkle in their eye, some even suggested that we should set up the flood barrier regularly to bring some activity to the town center,
He also added that the flood barrier worked optimally throughout the event.
Practical preparedness in the face of extreme weather
The flooding in Eidsvoll during Storm Hans is a clear example of how mobile flood protection can be deployed quickly and effectively when communities face acute flood risk. When forecasts change rapidly and the consequences can be severe, flexible and reusable solutions provide a crucial advantage.
To learn more about how Haawal works with mobile flood protection, and how our solutions are used in real flood situations, visit our homepage
How Eidsvoll town centre was protected as water levels rose
How flood protection helped drammen during dtorm “Hans"
