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Last week, Inge Hage discovered cracks in the trim and parquet that had moved. He and neighbor Linda Berntsen do not feel safe even though NVE has “reclaimed” the housing area.
– I believe that the municipality has renounced all responsibility by relying on NVE (Norwegian Directorate of Energy and Waterways). Here we only get a message that the area has been declared healthy, without further justification or reporting, Hage tells VG.
It has an address in the residential area of Viervangen, which is located about 200 meters north of the houses that were taken over by the rapid clay landslide at Ask in Gjerdrum on December 30 last year.
On Monday, police sent a message to 600 evacuated residents that it is safe to return from Wednesday. On this list is Viervangen.
Now Hage will show what he discovered when last Wednesday they had an hour to recover assets from their apartments.
– Cracked ceiling around trim and seams in hallway, living room and kitchen. But the worst thing is that the parquet has slipped and moved from the door, with large gaps, says Hage, who lives in a house for six people.
– I feel great compassion for the victims and their families, but I think it is important to clarify this, he adds.
His neighbor, Linda Berntsen, is also critical of the message that it is safe to return.
– I’m not going to sleep there. We have trusted NVE once before, why should we trust them again? she asks.
The Gjerdrumsportalen Facebook page shows that Berntsen and Hage are not the only ones feeling an insecurity related to reversing. “A couple of weeks ago, the fire department was inside our house to retrieve some of our things, we have not been able to enter ourselves. But now suddenly we will be allowed to live there, ”writes one.
Another writes: “We are somewhat surprised that you can be” absolutely certain that it is safe to go back, provided you don’t know what caused the landslide and where it started.
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The videos and photos that Hage took were sent to both NVE and the municipality.
– I’m not terrified, but I don’t think this is cool. I don’t know what I’ll think the day I go back and sleep there, he says.
On Monday afternoon, a briefing was held at the Olavsgaard Hotel, where many of the evacuees have lived since the landslide. Then the neighbors talked together about the situation.
– There are several who have found damage in his apartment, says Hage.
You are clear about what follow-up you think Ask residents should receive:
– That those who want to move from there obtain a price for their houses and sell them, so that they do not lose large sums because the value is reduced by half. Should one be forced to live on a construction site for several years?
See what insurance companies If and Gjensidige answer further down in the article.
NVE: does not have to be an avalanche hazard indication
Regional manager Toril Hofshagen at NVE says they are completely confident in the recommendation given to the police. It is the result of the work that NVE and its professional advisers Multiconsult and NGI (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) have carried out since December 30.
– We have reviewed a lot of documentation prior to the landslide and supplemented it with new information on the soil conditions in the evacuated areas. What we have checked is whether the landslide that took place on December 30 could develop further and whether it could have affected the evacuated buildings, he says.
THE SLIDER AREA: Ten people were killed in the rapid clay landslide at Ask in Gjerdrum. Photo: Anders Martinsen, UAS Norway / Pool
– In light of the neighbors’ observations, can you understand that they are concerned?
– You clearly understand that they are concerned when they discover cracks in their apartment. But it’s important for us to say that it doesn’t have to be an avalanche hazard indication at all, says Hofshagen.
NVE will not speculate on what has been observed in the buildings they now consider safe to re-enter.
– We have focused on the ground conditions. So, of course, it is a matter between the owner and the insurance company to get a closer evaluation of what one may have from the observations.
REGIONAL MANAGER: Toril Hofshagen in the East Region in NVE. Photo: Terje Pedersen
The municipality: See that injuries are reported
Berit Adriansen, planning and construction business manager in Gjerdrum municipality, says he understands that it can be difficult to understand that the area is declared safe.
– There have been many moving masses, and we see that there are reports of sediment damage, as a result of the groundwater level change. This does not mean that the area is unsafe, but we are aware and fully understand that residents are concerned.
He stresses that they have full confidence in NVE’s evaluations, and says they have followed them closely in the work that has been done in the last five weeks.
– They don’t give a recommendation unless they’re completely sure, says Adriansen, adding that it will be some time before the report is released.
– Why should the inhabitants trust actors who have previously carried out evaluations of the area?
– Awareness of landslide zones has increased and the criteria for considering something safe and stable have become stricter. NVE has made it clear that to consider a safe area, they must have two dashes below the answer before giving a recommendation.
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Berit Adriansen in the municipality of Gjerdrum. Photo: Heiko Junge
Yes: Loss of home value is not covered
– I understand that there are many emotions associated with the message that was sent today, says communications director Lars Galtung of the If insurance company.
– We were also surprised, as a period of three to six months was suggested before clarification, he adds.
Their agreements do not cover the loss of market value for people who want to move permanently. However, they cover the rental agreements entered into by evacuated residents.
– Those who have signed a three to six month rental agreement will have their costs covered if they move again earlier. They will also be covered for all possible injuries and rehabilitation, Galtung says.
Starting Wednesday, If will dispatch a team to the site to begin work on mapping the damage. If the appraiser finds an apartment uninhabitable, no one should ever move there again.
– Then they have to live somewhere else and it’s covered by our insurance. If you have significant damage to the settlement and you have no electricity or water, it probably indicates that it may not be habitable.
Gjensidige: must comply with the decision of the authorities
Communications manager Bjarne Rysstad at Gjensidige says they have full understanding and empathy for residents who feel unsafe to return.
– But we as an insurer must comply with what the authorities decide. If they have decided that it is safe to live here, we will identify with it, and it will be critical with regard to further processes, says Rysstad.
This means that the loss of value as a result of any sale is not covered by the company’s agreements.
– I understand that they feel they are in a difficult situation, but we have our role and we will help clients within the framework that we have. We can’t help with other things, says the communications manager.
