International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow ...

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches
Egilsstaðir, Iceland, March 11–14, 2008
asked for the western part of town to be planned. In 1947, the approved plan was expanded
towards the west, and after that the plan expanded slowly all the way to the bottom of the
fjord, however, always with words of warning about avalanche and landslide risk (Pálsson
1990). The westernmost part of town (Ströndin) has, however, always been scarcely
populated and industrial buildings been prominent. The main reason is most likely risk of
avalanches and debris flows.
The avalanche accidents in 1974 occurred west of the main residential area of the town. The
two catastrophic avalanches destroyed fishing factories and other industrial buildings, as well
as one residential building. The accident knocked back people in Neskaupstaður who realised
that they had not been aware of the avalanche risk at all. The local government had a hazard
map made and the spatial development of the town was towards the east during the next years
as was recommended in the first plan for the town. According to the newest hazard map, the
majority of the town is within avalanche hazard zones, and extensive protection plans are
being made. One large catching dam has been constructed and another one has been designed.
Most new houses in the past few years have been built in the easternmost part of town, or
filled in empty spaces beneath the dam.
CONCLUSIONS
The experience in Iceland shows that when no concrete laws or legislations exist that limit the
usage of land due to avalanche hazard, the effect of avalanches on the spatial development of
settlements becomes very little, especially in times of rapid rise in population. There are many
cases where houses have been built in an avalanche path within 10−20 years from a large
avalanche, both in the beginning of the 20 th century when no plans existed, but also later, up
until 1995.
Avalanches that cause death or major destruction have had greater effect in general on the
spatial development of settlements than avalanches that fall over areas with no buildings or
avalanches that only cause little damage. The latter ones look innocent and their destructive
power and the likelihood that they will happen again have constantly been underestimated.
With the first official hazard maps, estimated avalanche risk in areas with avalanche potential
but no avalanche history, started to affect the spatial development of villages. The effect of
the new avalanche laws on the spatial development of settlements has not been as great as it
could have been since most local governments have decided to protect existing endangered
settlements rather than relocate the settlements.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
During the work of gathering the building years of houses for the hazard mapping process,
many senior informants gave invaluable information on the history of houses. Magnús Guðmundsson,
Einar Guðmundsson and Stefán Þorleifsson are acknowledged for giving me their
time and wisdom in interviews during the work of my B.S. thesis in 1997.
REFERENCES
Ágústsdóttir, K. 2001. Byggingarár húsa á Eskifirði. NA-37. Náttúrustofa Austurlands. Neskaupstaður.
Geirsdóttir, S. 2000. Byggingarár húsa í Bolungarvík. Náttúrustofa Vestfjarða. Bolungarvík.
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