– The police urge the population to avoid unnecessary traffic on the roads in the district. The police also encourage the population to update themselves on weather reports in the media and danger warnings on yr.no and varsom.no. Also check out your own municipality’s website for local information, West police district writes on the police log.
Extreme amounts of rainfall are expected in Western Norway on Thursday. Locally, between 120 and 180 millimeters can fall during the day.
A red warning has been issued for rain, floods and landslides in Western Norway as a result of the extreme weather, which has been named Jakob.
A number of places will be able to temporarily lose the road connection, preferably for several days, according to Varsom.no.
The storm is expected to hit inland parts of Vestland the hardest, but danger warnings have also been issued for Rogaland and Møre and Romsdal, and parts of Agder, Telemark, Buskerud, Innlandet and Trøndelag.
Roads may be closed at short notice
Bane Nor states that the Bergen Railway will be closed between Finse and Bergen from night to Thursday due to the storm.
The Norwegian Road Administration says that avalanche incidents can have consequences for traffic on the roads.
– Roads can be closed at short notice, and traveling on the roads while the flood and landslide situation is ongoing can cause considerable danger, they write in a press release.
They advise people to follow traffic reports at vegvesen.no/trafikk. In addition, you should consider whether you actually have to go out and travel, or whether you can postpone it until things have calmed down.
The Red Cross raises the alert
The Red Cross The Red Cross is on extra standby in Vestland, Møre og Romsdal, Rogaland, Buskerud and Innlandet due to the enormous amounts of rainfall that are expected in connection with the extreme weather Jakob.
– We are increasing preparedness in counties that are expected to be affected by the extreme weather Jakob. We do this to be able to assist with, among other things, search and rescue, evacuation, care for those affected and transport of rescue materials to those affected, says Øyvin Rannem Lund, acting head of preparedness and crisis management at the Red Cross, in a press release .
Several closed schools in Sogn og Fjordane
Several schools in Sogn og Fjordane have home school on Thursday, including Sogndal secondary school.
– The school has been in contact with all the municipalities in Sogn, and in addition made assessments about what it will be like for the students to travel to school in the predicted storm, writes Sogndal secondary school on its website.
The teaching takes place on Teams, and the subject teachers contact the students regarding attendance and teaching.
Sunnfjord municipality writes on its side that school pupils in a number of areas are asked to stay at home. Pupils in other areas who stay at home will not have their absence registered, but parents are asked to send a message in advance. In addition, the municipal council meeting in Sunnfjord is held on Teams on Thursday.
Open schools in Voss
Voss municipality has set up a crisis team. The crisis management is monitoring the situation, and the next meeting will be held at 11 am on Thursday, they write in a press release on Wednesday evening.
All schools and kindergartens in the municipality will remain open on Thursday, but that, depending on how the flood situation develops, it may be relevant to end the school day earlier. In that case, the parents will be notified.
Citizen notification in Voss to areas that may be affected is being considered.
Ullensvang municipality is also setting up crisis staff, reports Hardanger Folkeblad.
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CEO Red Cross salary
**Interview with Øyvin Rannem Lund, Acting Head of Preparedness and Crisis Management at the Red Cross**
**Editor:** Good evening, Øyvin. Thank you for joining us today amidst the severe weather conditions in Western Norway. Can you start by giving us an overview of what the Red Cross is doing in response to the storm named Jakob?
**Øyvin Rannem Lund:** Thank you for having me. With the extreme rainfall forecasted to affect regions such as Vestland and Møre og Romsdal, we’ve significantly ramped up our preparedness efforts. Our teams are on high alert to assist with potential search and rescue operations, evacuations, and providing care for those impacted by the storm. We’re also focusing on transporting necessary materials to those in need.
**Editor:** That sounds crucial. Can you tell us more about the areas that are particularly at risk and how communities can prepare?
**Øyvin Rannem Lund:** Absolutely. Regions like Rogaland and parts of Agder, Telemark, Buskerud, Innlandet, and Trøndelag are included in the risk zone. We encourage individuals to stay informed through local news and weather reports. It’s vital for residents to monitor updates on websites like yr.no and varsom.no, as conditions can change rapidly.
**Editor:** In your experience, what’s the most important advice you can give to residents who may be affected?
**Øyvin Rannem Lund:** The most important piece of advice is to avoid unnecessary travel. The police have urged people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, as both floods and landslides can create dangerous conditions. If you are in an area at risk, remain vigilant and have a contingency plan in place. Make sure to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly or vulnerable.
**Editor:** We’re hearing that schools are closing in some areas, like Sogn og Fjordane. How is the Red Cross supporting communities during these closures?
**Øyvin Rannem Lund:** Yes, the closure of schools is a precautionary step to ensure the safety of students and staff. During this time, we recommend that parents stay tuned to local municipality communications for updates on school activities. Our volunteers are ready to assist in any way, whether that’s delivering supplies or offering community support afterward.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing this important information, Øyvin. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to emphasize to our viewers?
**Øyvin Rannem Lund:** I’d just like to remind everyone to take this situation seriously. Extreme weather can have unpredictable consequences, and it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Follow local advice, keep connected with your community, and stay safe.
**Editor:** Thank you, Øyvin. We appreciate the work the Red Cross is doing during these challenging times and encourage everyone to stay updated and safe.
