Betydningen av lokalkunnskap for beredskap og krisehåndtering : en studie av brannen på Sørneshalvøya i Flatanger vinteren 2014

Climate change result in changed risks considering natural hazards. There is great uncertainty associated with climate change, and what consequences these changes might have in the future. This thesis examines the importance of local knowledge in contingency and risk management related to handling a natural hazard, more specific the bushfire that hit Flatanger in Nord- Trøndelag county, the winter of 2014. After this bushfire Flatanger received lot of attention in the media, and the discussion in the aftermath of the fire revolves around the importance of contingency on a local level, and the organization of the fire service all around rural parts of Norway. The aim of this study has been to establish an understanding of how local knowledge may contribute to risk management, and how local knowledge was used as a contribution during the bushfire in Flatanger. The study is qualitative with application of interview and document analysis. The main focus is how local stakeholders in the municipality assess the handling of the bushfire, and the contribution of local knowledge during this operation. In addition to interviewing local stakeholders I have included document analysis of reports where the handling of the fire has been evaluated, and also the main discussion in different newspapers regarding the fire. Local knowledge is considered as an important part of contingency and risk management by the local actors from the municipality and local fire department, and have also received a lot of attention in newspapers. In contrast the reports evaluating the bushfire do not focus on the importance of local knowledge. There are several examples of local knowledge which played an important role during the handling of the bushfire in Flatanger. Use of local knowledge in contingency planning and risk management might contribute to a more resilient society