Mobile flood barriers helped protect homes in Flåm

The employees from the technical department working with the mobile flood barrier—it is installed quickly without any tools

When sudden heavy rain fell on top of early snowfall in the village of Flåm in Norway, water levels began to rise quickly. The steep terrain in the area means floods can develop with very little warning, giving emergency teams only a short window to act. To protect homes close to the river, the municipality installed mobile flood barriers within hours, a system they had purchased in advance for exactly this type of situation. The barriers were placed in a vulnerable area in the center of Flåm, supported by water pumps positioned safely behind the line. This created a stable barrier against the rising water and helped shield several houses located just a short distance from the riverbanks.

The flood barrier in Flåm

Local emergency crews explained that having a solution that can be installed quickly is essential in Flåm. When heavy rainfall begins, there is often no time to bring in heavy machinery or build traditional sandbag defenses. A lightweight, flexible system that adapts to steep and uneven terrain makes it possible to act fast and reduce damage.

According to local reporting from NRK, Fire Chief Reinhardt Sørensen said the new equipment made a clear difference. He noted that the barrier, combined with pumps, helped prevent major damage to several nearby houses. Sørensen also highlighted how little time there is to react in this type of landscape, and why rapid installation is critical.

NRK, the Norwegian national public broadcaster later featured the incident in the evening news, showing how the mobile flood barrier held back the water during the peak of the event.

This incident demonstrates how Haawal mobile flood barriers can support emergency teams when sudden flooding occurs. Learn more about our system on the product site, or read how our mobile flood barriers protected Drammen During Storm “Hans”.