Storm Amy has generated approximately 15,000 natural damage claims across southern Norway, with insurance payouts estimated at 1.8 billion kroner. The early October storm caused widespread destruction from Trøndelag to Vestfold, with Oppdal, Bergen and Larvik municipalities reporting the highest concentration of damage.
Loose roof panels, completely detached roofs, and garages torn away by powerful winds represent the most common types of property damage. Numerous businesses and commercial buildings also suffered substantial harm. Falling trees struck buildings, vehicles, and boats throughout the affected regions.
Ståle Solem Ingebrigtsen, managing director of Norsk Naturskadepool, described the event as a comprehensive natural damage incident affecting an unusually large geographical area. The camping facility Davik Fjord Paradis in Bremanger experienced extensive damage to its docks, balconies, and storage buildings.
Tryg Forsikring received 3,638 damage notifications related to Amy, with Bergen accounting for 537 claims alone. Communications advisor Torbjørn Brandeggen noted the storm generated nearly double the damage reports compared to extreme weather Hans. The scale approaches that of the 1992 New Year's hurricane, making Amy one of the most destructive weather events in decades.
Beyond structural damage, the storm caused power outages affecting over 100,000 households. Telenor reported this represented the largest power failure in ten years. The widespread outages raise serious questions about Norway's electrical infrastructure resilience.
Climate change implications cannot be ignored in this context. The director of Norsk Naturskadepool explicitly stated that Norway must prepare for more frequent extreme weather events. He pointed to a clear increase in natural damage incidents over the past decade, with several of the largest events occurring within the last three to four years.
The updated estimates for extreme weather Hans, which devastated valleys including Hallingdal, Gudbrandsdalen and Valdres last year, now stand at 3.1 billion kroner. This makes Hans the most expensive extreme weather event since the natural damage pool system began.
Local municipalities have expressed concerns about their capacity to handle such extensive damage. The consecutive major storms reveal systemic vulnerabilities in Norway's emergency response and infrastructure planning. Many communities lack the resources to manage recovery from weather events of this magnitude.
These back-to-back catastrophic weather events highlight the urgent need for updated climate adaptation strategies. Both government and private sectors must reconsider building standards, insurance models, and emergency preparedness protocols. The financial impact on insurance systems and public budgets will likely influence policy decisions for years to come.