This area has been struck by landslides and avalanches many times before. Most of the avalanches start in the steep overhang under Ruklenuten, at about 1300 metres altitude. The avalanches from Ruklenuten have been named Klungersetskreda, Helgesliskreda, Breiskreda, Røynhammarskreda, Rindaskreda and Juvaskreda ("skred" means "slide") – from south toward north. Often it is not the snow that creates most damage, but the strong winds that build up in front of the avalanche.
The Klungersetskreda avalanche in Odda in 1993 was the most destructive. The avalanche was recorded by video, and the dramatic event was shown on television around the world. But also from Tokheimsnuten, two avalanches let go the same year: Helleskreda and Husaskreda.
After the avalanche winter of 1993, work was initiated to plan and put in place avalanche and landslide protection. The work was finished in 1994 and cost 40 million crowns. The avalanche protection was built as large earthen walls and earthen pyramids. They were meant to stop any avalanches at Kalvanes and Egne Hjem before they could reach the settlements or the highway. At Tokheim a big cement wall was built, to lead an eventual avalanche out to the sides, away from the houses. At Eitrheim, where the avalanche followed a river gulley, the river bed is now sunken. A clay wall has been built along the edge of the river.
There have not been any more large avalanches after 1993 that have caused damage to the settlements in the Odda area. The protective measures have done a good job so far, but they have not yet been tested against an avalanche as big as that in 1993.
