Citizens must be prepared before flooding: It becomes a bigger and bigger problem.

It appears that homeowners need to start preparing.

Last spring marked the anniversary of one of the most severe storm surges in more than 100 years in Denmark (). The year 2023 was also the wettest on record in Denmark, with record amounts of rainfall in September alone. There are no signs that the extreme weather will abate in the future.

As a result, several municipalities have initiated special climate initiatives. The goal is both to fortify the municipality's readiness and to help homeowners secure their properties and land against the encroaching waters.

Homeowners on Hostrupgade in Silkeborg are battling water from Langsø in Silkeborg. Silkeborg, Sunday, February 23, 2020 (Photo: Ernst van Norde/Ritzau Scanpix) (Photo: © Ernest van Norde, Ritzau Scanpix)

"We hope that residents will feel better guided by the municipality, and that they will understand that they have a significant responsibility for securing themselves," says Thomas Damsgaard, head of Technology and Environment in Silkeborg Municipality.

The municipality's climate strategy has grown in response to the mounting challenges, and there is a need for a more coordinated climate response.

> "Climate change is happening faster than expected."

> Thomas Damsgaard, head of technology and environment in Silkeborg Municipality

Following one of the strongest rainfalls in over 10 years, several homeowners in Silkeborg were forced to evacuate their homes again in October 2023, and the municipality has had to deal with the resulting influx of inquiries. And the climate coordinator is there to help homeowners effectively.

> "Climate change is happening faster than expected. We anticipate receiving a large number of inquiries this year and in the coming years that need to be addressed," says Thomas Damsgaard.

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How to protect your home from flooding

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If you live in a flood-prone area, it's a good idea to have a disaster plan in place. That way, you'll know what steps to take to minimize damage.

Make sure you have a sump pump. The quicker your house is out of the water, the better the chances are of saving as many things as possible.

Another preventative measure is to try to keep water out of your house by blocking all openings, such as ventilation vents, installation openings, cat doors, etc. At the bottom of doors, you can install a watertight gasket, which prevents water from entering.

You can also place sandbags around your house, which can be collected in many municipalities when a flood warning is issued.

If there is a risk of flooding, you can have a floodgate installed in the outlet, so that sewage water cannot enter through the outlet when the sewer overflows.

Source: Bolius Knowledge Center.

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An abundance of climate meetings and courses

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And several municipalities are beginning to think creatively in the fight against flooding.

In Kolding, the municipality, in collaboration with TrekantBrand, has invited the townspeople to a "how to protect your house" workshop. The workshop has included practical exercises, where participants learned the technique behind filling a sandbag.

Vejle Municipality has invited homeowners to three meetings this fall. Dorthe Skaarup from Jels attended the first meeting with her husband, as their garage in their house had 13 centimeters of water in it due to heavy rain.

> "We were taken seriously. We were told what could be done and what couldn't be done. And today, the municipality is coming out, so we can work together to find a solution to the challenge of surface water, which runs down the road and ends up at our house," she says.

In Køge, overspill from the river in 2023 spread to the town center, and homes were secured with sandbags and water tubes, Thursday, October 19, 2023 (Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix) (Photo: © Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix) Read also: 'I've probably made enough mistakes': Niels has been on a course in filling sandbags ()

In the evening, residents of the village of Thorsager in Syddjurs can attend a meeting with the municipality. In this village, flooding is a recurring problem, and the municipality has set aside 800,000 kroner for a concrete climate adaptation plan in the village.

> "It's obviously something that we, as a municipality, can contribute to. But in the first instance, these meetings are about creating a dialogue, so we can work together on this challenge," says Sanne Attermann, head of Technology and Environment in Syddjurs Municipality.

> "It's important that people don't become discouraged."

> Kirsten Halsnæs, professor of climate and economy at DTU

And the climate challenges have generally made the municipalities' presence more prominent in small local communities:

> "We notice an increasing demand from homeowner associations for meetings with the municipality on how to handle climate challenges. So we are participating more and more," explains Sanne Attermann.

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