During a recent public visit to Lublin, Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Marcin Kierwiński outlined home safety protocols for air raid alerts following questions from a local resident, while emergency authorities across Poland rolled out a digital tool to help citizens locate nearby shelter infrastructure.
When asked by a resident where to seek cover at home during an air attack, Minister Kierwiński explained that individuals should stay away from glass and windows, recommending a hallway or a bathroom as long as it lacks gas infrastructure. According to the minister, staircases and basements can also offer protection provided that the lowest level is free from flammable items or gas cylinders.
Addressing the broader availability of protective spaces, Kierwiński noted that while authorities are working to construct more shelters, building a nationwide network cannot happen overnight. He added that while private underground garages remain locked on a daily basis, administrators will have a legal obligation to open them in a state of war, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration (MSWiA) is working with the fire service to ensure managers understand they should open these spaces during air raid alerts.
New Alarm Systems and Regional Training Drills
Security drills focusing on threat responses and sirens are currently underway in the Lublin and Podkarpackie provinces, according to the minister. Kierwiński announced that the government plans to launch a specialized application by the end of the year to supplement existing Regional Warning System (RCB) alerts and traditional sirens with a cell broadcasting function that will turn private phones into emergency alarms.
Educational activities are currently active in nearly 520 locations, and the Lublin province is marking nearly 3,500 potential shelter sites. While remote-capable sirens in the Lublin region numbered around 30 at the start of 2024, the count has grown to nearly 350 and is projected to surpass one thousand by the end of the year. Discussing recent emergency tests, Kierwiński acknowledged that responses did not go according to plan everywhere, noting that over 80 percent of schools and kindergartens in Lublin followed proper procedures while problem cases undergo analysis.
Did You Know? The number of remotely operable warning sirens in the Lublin province has increased from approximately 30 at the beginning of 2024 to nearly 350, with projections aiming to exceed one thousand sirens by the end of the year.
Mapping Existing Infrastructure With ‘Gdzie się ukryć’
To help citizens navigate emergency situations, the State Fire Service provides a free digital tool called „Gdzie się ukryć”, accessible via gdziesieukryc.pl and soon through mobile app stores, according to government materials. The platform maps numerous existing structures—such as underpasses, subway stations, tunnels, and sturdy underground parking garages—that can serve as temporary shelter points (Punkty Schronienia) during threats like severe weather or airborne risks.
Sergiusz Parszowski of the Security Observatory noted that these spaces are not hermetic shelters designed against hazardous substances, but their solid below-ground construction, lack of windows, and reinforced pillars provide baseline protection against air attacks. Parszowski also pointed out that standard nationwide access procedures for private communal facilities remain absent, meaning entry often depends on the individual management policies of housing cooperatives and building administrators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should residents shelter inside an apartment during an air attack?
According to Minister Kierwiński, residents should seek shelter in rooms far away from glass and windows, such as a hallway or a bathroom, provided there is no gas infrastructure present.
What is the difference between a shelter and a point of refuge?
According to Sergiusz Parszowski of the Security Observatory, a dedicated shelter is a hermetic structure capable of protecting against hazardous substances, whereas points of refuge like basements, tunnels, or underground garages offer basic structural protection against airborne threats without matching a shelter’s highest tier of defense.
How can citizens find nearby emergency spaces?
According to official state safety guidelines, citizens can use the free online tool available at gdziesieukryc.pl, managed by the State Fire Service, which catalogs a vast number of existing local structures and allows for offline use after initial data is downloaded.
What steps has your local community taken to prepare residents for emergency alerts and shelter access?
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