At 03:00 on Wednesday night, the message arrived. There is a risk that the Glomma River could overflow its banks and that the roads leading out from Evenstad might be closed.
The Property Department began the work of securing research materials and evacuating 12 exchange students who live in the dorms on the Evenstad campus.
"We have a lot of experience with these events, and everything went calmly and smoothly. No one is stressed," says Dean Maria Hörnell Willebrand.
- Also read: Red danger warning extended
Stay at home
One of those who has been working overnight is Operations Coordinator Knut Lundberg. We spoke with him a little after 8:00 today.
– How does it look there now?
"The river has not overflowed its banks nor flooded the area yet, but the river is rising quickly, and the roads around us are closing or are at risk of being closed soon. That's why we evacuated those who were here," Lundberg explains.
Close contact has been established with the municipality, and the central crisis group at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences is working on determining what happens next.
Hörnell Willebrand has an important message for all employees.
– No one should come to Evenstad today!
Arranging dormitories
There was no drama during the evacuation of the 12 students who were staying on campus.
All of them were transported to the community center at Steinvika along National Road 3.
Efforts are now being made during the morning hours to provide these students with a roof over their heads.
"We are in touch with the Student Welfare Organization to arrange new dormitories for these students elsewhere, and we expect it to go smoothly," says Willebrand.
Local crisis group is set up at the Rena campus
On Wednesday afternoon, a local crisis group was established at Inland School of Business and Social Sciences at Rena campus.
This is to closely follow developments related to the extreme weather at the campus. The central crisis team at INN University closely monitors the situation as well, and will continue to hold meetings throughout the week.
Contact information:
- maria.willebrand@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 07 55
- marit.roland@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 61 28 81 74