Grøn Koncert strengthens weather preparedness after last year’s flooding

Grøn Koncert has revised its emergency plans after last year’s sudden downpour flooded the festival site in Esbjerg, forcing the cancellation of final performances and the evacuation of about 20,000 guests.

Morten Bjørkmann, the festival’s safety chief, said organisers have held drills and sent staff on weather-related courses while tightening contact with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), which they can now call every 15 minutes if conditions deteriorate.

One evacuee, Kristina Højfeldt, who uses a wheelchair and relies on a respirator, said the flooding left her unwilling to risk returning this year.

“I decided I cannot go. The water was so deep I feared everything could short-circuit, and I worried about getting stuck in the mud,” she said. “It was not pleasant at all.”

Bjørkmann acknowledged the ordeal while insisting that revised procedures now guarantee safety.

“Whether you use a wheelchair or not, last year’s weather was extreme. But I can guarantee our plan is in place and guests can feel completely secure,” he said.

Højfeldt welcomed the improvements yet said she remains unwilling to attend.