Great relief that no one was hurt

“When you look at the evidence after this avalanche, you see how great and how amazingly gracious it is that no one lost their life in that flood. It’s quite clear that the force has been absolutely immense.”

This is what Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir says after her meeting in Neskaupstaður, who went with Minister of the Environment Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson and Víðir Reynisson, head of the Civil Protection Department of the Icelandic Police, to the east of Iceland last weekend to observe the situation and meet with the response team and the town’s government.

An admirable community

Jakobsdóttir says the meeting went well and that she felt a certain relief from the locals today, as the weather is now good in Neskaupstaður  and the evacuation order has been lifted in the area.

Article on Iceland Monitor

An avalanche in Neskaupstaður

Jakobsdóttir says they reviewed the reactions at the meeting and she praises the public and the responders for their quick and concise responses. She says it’s admirable how the community has joined forces in these difficult times.

New barrier expected

Katrín says that it was in the minds of local people to get further barriers and infrastructure, but points out that three barriers are already in the area and that preparations are underway to build a fourth one in the hill where the avalanche hit the settlement.

“The fourth barrier is already on planned and has recently been introduced. It’s clear that it’s important for the residents to know when it’s going to be possible to start construction,” says Jakobsdóttir, who adds that it will take several years to build but that preparations are well underway.

Article on Iceland Monitor

Relief from evacuations expected this afternoon

She points out that there are many areas of the country where further defence is needed and that the government increased the budget for this area two years ago.

“It is clear that the need is urgent. It is important that the state and local authorities work together on these kinds of issues. It is also important to make this whole process like the evacuation maps digital.”

Will discuss natural disaster insurance laws

When asked, Jakobsdóttir says it is possible to consider discussing laws on natural disaster insurance, although she points out that they were last revised in 2018. She says there has been a debate on whether it can be better coordinated with the funds that are in operation.

“It is imperative to keep the focus on the avalanche defences throughout the country and then to review how we can better explain damages and insurance issues in the aftermath of natural disasters. It is possible to take steps to eliminate certain gray areas. Of course these issues need to be reviewed and we need to learn from them.”

Those who suffer damages have to pay 600 thousand ISK in deductible insurance, and there were ten apartments that were damaged by the avalanche.