Flooding is expected in Värnamo – MSB must secure the city

Flooding is expected in Varnamo – MSB must secure the
Now ask for help to cope with the situation

Published: Less than 30 min ago

Updated: Less than 10 min ago

The law rises and Värnamo is threatened by flooding.

Now the municipality acts and requests help from MSB.

– We were already affected in 2004, says Värnamo resident Ulf Hindsén, 47.

It has rained heavily in Småland and the town of Värnamo in Jönköping County is now threatened by flooding.

It is the water in the river Lagan that rises very quickly.

This is stated by the rescue service in the city for Sveriges Radio.

full screen In 2004, Värnamo was hit by major floods. Photo: DANIEL ERIKSSON

Extra barriers to meet the threat

And the gray and rainy weather will continue, which Aftonbladet was able to report on yesterday.

The municipality is now building barriers to protect the central parts of Värnamo.

But it’s not enough. Now the municipality must receive reinforcements from the Swedish Agency for Community Protection and Preparedness (MSB).

The authority contributes with extra barriers to be able to secure the city from the water.

full screen Flooding at Lagan in Värnamo a few years ago – but that time in March. Archive image. Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT

Nearby Skillingaryd is also threatened by masses of water from the flooded Österån.

– It’s probably 10-15 centimeters in the kennel, Skillingaryd resident Carina Strid Bjurhager tells P4 Jönköping.

The emergency services have built dikes to stop the water.

full screenÅbroparken in Värnamo was completely flooded in 2004. Photo: JOHAN FRÄMST / TT NEWS AGENCY

There is experience in the city

Ulf Hindsén runs the campsite in Värnamo. His view of the situation is that the municipality is well prepared for possible floods.

– Värnamo was affected in 2004 and now it is about a meter lower than it was then. But since we were affected even then, there is a certain amount of experience, he says.

full screen A boy cycles through the water near Åbroparken in Värnamo during the flood in 2004. Photo: JOHAN FRÄMST / TT

The campsite is by the river and the municipality has now started building barriers at a nearby residential area.

– They have started there and then they work their way further downstream, says Ulf Hindsén.

In 2004, he had to block the water with gravel and his own barriers and evacuate.

Learned a lot in 2004

The flood in 2004 led to most people in the municipality learning a lot about which paths the water takes and what happens in the event of a flood.

– I am therefore completely confident with the municipality’s actions now, says Ulf Hindsén.

full screen Then Minister of the Environment Lena Sommerstad (S) came to Värnamo during the flood in 2004. Photo: SOFIA SABEL / TT

The municipality of Värnamo, which has closed some walking and cycling routes in the city, urges the public to be careful and to respect the barriers that will be set up.

This is reported by SVT.

fullscreen During the 2004 flood, the water in Lagan rose 2 centimeters every hour. Photo: JOHAN FRÄMST / TT

Snow melting

SMHI has warned of high flows in watercourses in several parts of Götaland during the rest of the week, including in certain places in Småland and Västergötland.

– We have an unstable weather situation, where several areas of rain have entered southern Sweden recently, says Max Schildt, meteorologist at SMHI, to TT.

– It has also been plus degrees over the southern half of the country, where quite large amounts of snow fell last week, he adds.

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