Frequently asked questions

The Service center at Tollhúsið in Reykjavík is open on weekdays from 10-18. You can get all the support you need in one place; access to social support, employment opportunities and advice about insurance and compensation. There's also a place for children while you seek the support you need.

Civil Protection has created a sign-up sheet for those who need to return to their houses to get their belongings. Sign up here and you will be allocated a time if/when circumstances allow.

The municipality is still operating from another location, despite the evacuation on November 10th. The municipality website is updated regularly regarding the Emergency Phase, accessibility and services for those in need. The website is in Icelandic, but information in English and Polish are published regularly.

The Civic Protection Department co-ordinates operations in Reykjanes peninsula. All response teams are informed with the newest information as soon as they appear. You can also sign up for the Civic Protection Department mailing list for the latest information.

It is most recommended to give children the opportunity to ask what comes first to mind, in their time. For us grown-ups, it can be helpful show that we are calm, but also to admit if we don't have all the answers. Let us show them warmth and safety and spend a good amount of time with them.

All homes in Iceland are insured against natural catastrophe through the Icelandic Natural Disaster Fund. You do not have to apply for compensation at this time, not until the Level of Danger is withdrawn. Here you can read about what to do and at what time - please note: the latest information on the Disaster Fund can be found here - in Icelandic but an English translation is expected soon.

The Red Cross is in charge of supporting the inhabitants of Grindavík who need shelter. They also provide information on available housing in nearby areas.

You can report yourself and those with you by calling the Red Cross helpline, 1717 or start a webchat with 1717. If you can also report yourself safe if you are seeking shelter in a mass care shelter. It is important to report your whereabouts to ensure the safety of all the inhabitants of Grindavík.

People have had very little time to gather their belongings and their pets after the evacuation and still there are some pets who haven't been found yet. Here you can seek information on whether someone has found a stray pet in the Facebook group Pets in Grindavík.

Search & Rescue is there in need and are assisting inhabitants to collect their belongings, insure road safety and access control, in co-operation with the police. The first information from Search & Rescue will appear on their Facebook site. Remember to support each other and let's make sure our friends and neighbours are also updated.

RÚV - the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service has a security duty during an Emergency Phase. That means repeated news on the latest updates on all of RÚV's mediums: News on the hour 24 hours a day at Rás 2, live updated news on ruv.is and dedicating the majority of TV news hour to the latest news, which are also reported in English and Polish. Here's a link to a radio show in English about the latest events in Grindavík.

Now at island.is there is a new portal for important information for Grindavík inhabitants. There you'll find useful forms, information about kindergarten and school plans, assistance for companies and more. The portal is ever-changing and is updated as soon as new resources are available.

Tenants will have to contact their landlord to negotiate the continuation of the leasing. The Consumer Protection Agency assists tenants with rent-related issues and they also provide more information on rights and duties of tenants on their website. Here you can request assistance by filling out this form below.