Residents still fear flooding one year after devastating storm in Denmark

Today marks the one-year anniversary of one of Denmark’s worst floods, which devastated homes and properties in the southern region of the country. Many residents affected by last year’s disaster still live in fear of future flooding, as several homes remain unprotected against rising waters.

In Oddermose on the island of Møn, for instance, the floodwaters rose to 1.2 meters inside Jørgen Frederiksen’s summer home when the storm hit. “The anxiety of being chased away by nature’s forces lingers in the subconscious, even though I try to forget it daily,” he explains. His home now stands stripped of furniture, as the protective dike was washed away during the storm, leaving it vulnerable to floods. “Last winter, we saw water inside due to strong onshore winds and high tides; now with the dike gone, we should expect water again.”

The residents have struggled with the recovery process, as it falls to the homeowners’ association to rebuild the dike, a task that has proven slow due to necessary investigations and permits. Consequently, there is no dike ready for winter, leaving Frederiksen to hope for a calm season.

Nearby in Egernsund, Marianne Markussen expresses her concerns about the upcoming winter. Their home sits directly next to the water, and despite her efforts to protect it with sandbags and pumps, flooding was unavoidable last year. “It’s hard to think our home is at risk again,” she admits, emphasizing her attachment to the place, filled with family memories.

In Faaborg, Helge Hermansen reflects on the impact of last year’s flooding, likening the waters’ approach to a tsunami. With rising water levels, he insists that coastal protection needs urgent attention. While insurance covered some damages, the looming threat of further flooding remains a continuous worry for residents who feel they have no choice but to endure.