Young entrepreneurs prepare emergency kits in Hønefoss after last year’s storm

Isabel Haugen, a 17-year-old resident of Hønefoss, described how last year’s extreme weather event, known as “Hans,” impacted her community. She found herself cut off from the city as the adjacent road became submerged.

In the aftermath of the storm, Haugen and her peers shifted their focus from baking to preparing emergency supply kits after receiving advice from local authorities. She noted that her family’s preparedness made a significant difference during the event. “We had taken steps to prepare, knowing the water levels would rise, and we needed food and essential items,” she explained.

The young entrepreneurs now aim to equip the residents of Hønefoss for future emergencies. Isabel Thorsrud, also 17, mentioned that her first customers will likely be parents who lack emergency supplies at home. The group is creating various preparedness kits tailored to different needs, which include items such as radios, headlamps, canned goods, blankets, lights, and water purification tablets.

The second-year students at Hønefoss Secondary School have formed different youth enterprises to fund a class trip. Danial Ali Hamid remarked on the challenges they faced in starting their business, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, task distribution, and planning. With their kits now ready, the team is eager to see how the community will respond to their initiative.