Emergency services conduct drills in Saariselkä, Lapland amidst rising storm risks due to climate change

Fallen trees are causing damage to vehicles and buildings, while power and water supplies have been disrupted. Storms ravaging the northern regions are likely to become more common due to climate change. In response, emergency services and volunteers in Lapland conducted drills in Saariselkä to prepare for various challenging scenarios triggered by a hypothetical storm. Although the damages experienced were simulated, the exercise aimed to assess how different agencies would collaborate in remote areas, away from urban settings.

Professor Jacob Taarup from the University of Copenhagen monitored the training, fully aware that such situations could soon become a reality in Northern Lapland. He has researched the resilience and adaptability of Arctic regions. “The most significant changes are already visible here, and they are immense. They challenge the local community’s ability to cope as adaptation occurs slowly,” Taarup noted.

According to Tanja Sälevä from the Finnish Red Cross, residents in sparsely populated areas are accustomed to anticipating long wait times for assistance in real emergencies. “People here understand that help can take a while to arrive. If something happens, one must be prepared to manage on their own for a time before help arrives,” said Sälevä.

In Lapland, despite long distances and challenging weather conditions, there is readiness for emergencies. “If a large incident were to occur in the north, I believe we would be able to handle the situation, and of course we would receive support from the southern regions,” added Joni Henttu, head of emergency services at the Lapland Regional Administrative Agency.

The region is already witnessing the severe impacts of climate change, including erosion, extreme storms, and rising temperatures, all of which affect the local ecosystem. “We are experiencing the worst-case scenarios. While it may not seem like climate change has dramatic effects here yet, it represents the greatest change in the area for thousands of years,” Taarup stated. Regular training for emergency situations is deemed essential, despite real emergencies being rare in Lapland, highlighted by firefighter Matti Riikola. “It’s challenging when incidents occur far from urban centers, like Saariselkä.”