The difficult situation across the eastern border and the lack of widespread information regarding the location of shelters have become the driving force for the government to create the “Shelters” application.
Temporary refuge places vs. shelters – the main difference
The name may be somewhat misleading in a technical context. Most of the indicated places will primarily meet the conditions qualifying them as temporary refuge places (TRP). By definition, shelters, in addition to providing protection against possible direct actions of conventional weapons, should be insulated from external factors such as radiation or chemical weapons. This means that, for example, they should have their own air filtration system inside the facility. The purpose of temporary refuge places is primarily to protect not only against bombing raids but also against the effects of violent natural disasters. As reported by Maciej Wąsik, the deputy head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, and Brigadier General Andrzej Bartkowiak, the application includes 234,735 objects, of which 8,719 are hiding places and over 224,000 are temporary refuge places.
Safe shelters for 47 million people
Assuming that each person needs 1.5 square meters of space, the facilities will be able to accommodate approximately 47 million people. Clearly, the demand may be much greater than the state’s capabilities. It is worth noting that various types of buildings with large underground areas, such as underground parking lots, can also serve as shelter locations. It is worth mentioning that representatives of the State Fire Service were responsible for verifying the application data.