On August 10, the mayor of Eidsvoll announced that the municipality would set up temporary flood barriers in the town center. Lake Mjøsa had been rising by 2.5 centimeters per hour, and forecasts warned of further increases. The city feared the flood could reach levels similar to the one in 1995. An article published by Eidsvoll Ullensaker Blad describes this.
Back in 2018, the municipality decided to purchase Haawal flood barriers to be able to respond quickly to flood threats. The mobile flood barriers are both more effective at stopping floods and several times faster to install than sandbag barriers. It quickly became evident that the efforts made by the technical department to protect the town center from flooding were effective. A few days later, the water level rose further and reached the temporary flood barrier from Haawal.
With the help of pumps behind the barrier, they managed to keep the floodwater at bay and avoid major damage. The new service building was one of the buildings the municipality was pleased to have protected.
The new service building in the center of Eidsvoll
According to an article in Eidsvoll Ullensaker Blad, Hjell stated:
"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,' Hjell chuckled.
He added that the flood barrier has worked optimally."
The Haawal barrier that winds through the center of Eidsvoll
Drone image of Eidsvoll center with high water levels in the Vorma river, stopped by the Haawal Barriers.