BW102 BOXWALL Triumphs: Saving Faaborg Café from Storm Babet
During the ferocious Storm Babet in October 2023, the NOAQ Boxwall BW102 stood as a formidable barrier, shielding Faaborg Rögeri Café in Denmark from floodwaters that surged to 95 cm, ensuring the café remained dry amidst the chaos of a 2-meter sea level rise.
A Night of Resilience
On the night between Friday and Saturday, October 2023, Storm Babet battered Faaborg, Denmark, driving sea levels to rise over two meters, submerging most of Faaborg harbor, including the area around Faaborg Røgeri Café. Water reached a daunting 95 cm deep around the café’s walls, threatening to invade the beloved establishment. However, the NOAQ BW102 BOXWALL, standing at a precise 1 meter in height, proved its mettle, forming an impervious barrier that kept the floodwaters at bay and the café dry.
In an interview with Fyns Amts Avis on Saturday morning, café owner Line Klivager shared her relief and gratitude. Having faced flooding threats multiple times in recent years, she described the tense night spent monitoring the water levels and pumps, bolstered by the BW102 system’s steadfast protection. “It was a close call, but the Boxwall held strong,” Klivager told the newspaper, emphasizing how the innovative flood barrier safeguarded her business against the relentless storm.
We are super relieved that everything went our way. We have been able to stay dry all night, even when it was chaotic and critical. I think that my café is now the driest place in the whole harbour
Line Klivager, Owner, Faaborg Røgeri Café
The heart of Faaborg
Nestled on the picturesque South Funen Coast along the Faaborg Fjord, Faaborg is a charming harbor town in Denmark’s Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality, part of the Southern Region. Home to roughly 7,000 residents, the town radiates an idyllic, cozy atmosphere, with its streets lined with well-preserved historic houses and buildings that capture its timeless charm.
Situated right at the harbor’s edge, Faaborg Røgeri Café and smokehouse has been a beloved fixture since its founding in 2002. In 2004, Tine Klivager took over the business, and in 2011, she passed the reins to her daughter, Line Klivager, marking a generational shift. Today, Line and her dedicated team run the café and smokehouse, serving freshly smoked fish daily to locals and tourists during the bustling April-to-October season. The café’s prime location, while scenic, leaves it vulnerable to flooding, making the BW102 Boxwall’s protection during Storm Babet a critical safeguard for this community gem.
Once the floodwaters from Storm Babet receded, Line Klivager and her team quickly dismantled the NOAQ BW102 BOXWALL system, efficiently stowing it in a nearby storage unit. This rapid response allowed Faaborg Røgeri Café to reopen its doors on Sunday, the final day of the 2023 season, welcoming back locals and visitors alike. The ease of handling and storing the BW102 system ensured minimal disruption, underscoring its value as a practical and reliable solution for flood-prone businesses like the café.
The water should not be allowed to decide when we close for the season, and now it should be celebrated that we managed to get through this with one skin intact
Line Klivager, Owner, Faaborg Røgeri Café
The full interview with Line Klivager in Fyns Amts Avis can be read here.