In the mid-1990s, Eskilstuna municipality chose to decommission several VMA typhoons.
Robert Värn, VMA manager at the rescue service in Eskilstuna, says that the responsibility for the VMA systems then passed from the county administration to the municipalities.
He explains that today there are government reimbursements that cover both operation and maintenance of the systems, but in the 90s it was a significantly higher cost that the municipalities then had to take over.
- At this time, they only looked at peacetime risks, such as emissions and the like.
Then it was concluded that several of the typhoons were redundant, says Robert Värn.
Needed to be looked over
Work on reviewing Eskilstuna's VMA system started already in 2021.
- The investment was made based on peacetime risks in the 90s, but we have to make an investment based on these risks today, says Robert Värn.
A few months after MSB, the Norwegian Civil Protection and Preparedness Authority, approved the reactivation of the typhoons, Russia invaded Ukraine and the issue has since become increasingly pressing.
From 14 to 60
Now Eskilstuna goes from 14 active typhoons to 60 when the old typhoons are equipped with new technology.
They get a new system with so-called electroacoustic technology that also makes it possible to send out spoken messages.
- It is to be able to reinforce and clarify the message that the authorities want to get out with, says Robert Värn.