Homeowners near Diernæs denied compensation after storm surge. The Nature Damage Council has rejected 60 complaints from homeowners near Diernæs Strandby between Haderslev and Aabenraa who had applied for compensation after a storm surge in the autumn of 2023. According to a press release from the council, the cases revolve around whether an established embankment can be considered coastal protection and thus whether the affected houses are protected from the sea or not.
The Storm Surge Act states that no compensation is given for real estate located outside of a dike – areas that are not protected from the sea. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) has previously reported that the houses near Diernæs Strandby are located in front of the dike. However, the complainants argue that the embankment cannot be described as a dike, as its original purpose was to protect against backwater, not coastal flooding. They also point out that the embankment is not included in the Coastal Directorate’s Coastal Atlas.
The Nature Damage Council requested an assessment of the embankment from the Coastal Directorate. The Directorate analyzed the elevation levels and water levels at Diernæs Strandby and concluded that flood protection in the form of a dike has been established, capable of withstanding relatively high water levels. According to the decision, it is crucial whether the embankment functions as a coastal protection dike, which the Coastal Directorate believes it does in this case.
The Nature Damage Council also emphasized that the Coastal Atlas is only indicative and does not provide a comprehensive overview of all coastal dikes. Verner Christiansen, chairman of the Diernæs Strandby Homeowners Association, expressed great disappointment with the decision. He describes it as a “botched job” and believes it is deeply unfair.
The decision from the Nature Damage Council cannot be appealed to another administrative authority, but it can be brought to court. The homeowners’ association is now considering whether to take the case to court.