{"id":229510,"date":"2023-09-13T14:17:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T14:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/opuscolo-rifugi-popolazione\/"},"modified":"2023-09-13T14:51:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T14:51:48","slug":"brochure-population-shelters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/brochure-population-shelters\/","title":{"rendered":"New brochure on population shelters"},"content":{"rendered":"

New brochure on population shelters<\/span><\/h1>\n
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The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOPP), due to the increased interest of Helvetians since the war in Ukraine began, has published a new brochure summary on shelters.<\/em>
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Swiss fallout shelter air filtration system Photo by Oggi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The FOPP’s new publication entitled “The Shelter,”<\/strong> available in German, French, Italian and English, provides an overview of this important element of the Swiss security apparatus.<\/span><\/p>\n

A shelter also commonly called a ” fallout shelter” is an underground facility located on the basement floor of a building designed to protect the population from armed conflict, but they can also offer good protection in the event of natural or man-made disasters. Most of the population lives in buildings equipped with shelters. If the building does not have a shelter, public shelters nearby can be used. The construction and equipment of shelters are standardized and governed by technical instructions. Cantons are responsible for developing and updating allocation plans. However, the allocation of the population to shelters is made publicly known only if the situation on the security policy level requires it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fallout shelters and emergency management in Switzerland<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Federal Office for Civil Protection points out that the clearing and furnishing of shelters is done only by order of the authorities if there is a real situation of danger, such as a war in a country neighboring Switzerland, and that shelters should be able to be cleared in five days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering the current situation in Ukraine, it is not necessary to prepare shelters for a stay.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Protection in case of armed conflict<\/span><\/h2>\n

Shelters are primarily designed to protect the population in case of armed conflict. They must resist the effects of modern weapons, so especially NBC weapons and the close impact of conventional weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n

A protected place for every inhabitant<\/span><\/h2>\n

The principle, “One protected place for every inhabitant,” applies in Switzerland. With about nine million protected places available in the approximately 370,000 public and private shelters, we can boast a coverage ratio of more than 100 percent, although there are cantonal differences and local gaps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conceptualization of shelters<\/span><\/h2>\n

Shelters are built and equipped in a very spartan manner in order to keep costs, space requirements and maintenance work as low as possible. On the other hand, no expense is spared on the protective function:<\/span><\/p>\n

The mechanical strength of the shelter is provided by the shell (floor, walls and ceiling), which is made of concrete. The closures, i.e., doors and armored lids, are also made of reinforced concrete.Each shelter has an emergency exit (rescue exit or escape tunnel) so that it can be abandoned even when the entrance is no longer usable, for example because it is obstructed by rubble from a building collapse.To ensure an influx of fresh air, shelters are equipped with a ventilation system. This includes an air intake, anti-explosion valve and prefilter, ventilation apparatus, gas filter as well as overpressure and anti-explosion valve.Large shelters also have a sluice. This prevents potentially contaminated outside air from entering the shelter when someone enters or leaves while the ventilation is operating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shelters of various sizes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Shelters are standardized and made of approved components. There are various types, which differ in size and floor plan. The number of protected places available in a shelter depends on its size. The best known is the private shelter located in the basement of single- and multi-family houses. As a rule, five to fifty people can be accommodated there, depending on the size of the house or building complex of which they are a part. Many municipalities also have large public shelters, often located under school or administrative buildings, where as many as several hundred people can be accommodated.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Private fallout shelter<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Equipping shelters<\/span><\/h2>\n

Homeowners must equip their shelters with the equipment that allows them to stay there for an extended period. Today, shelter equipment usually includes beds and dry latrines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Order to occupy shelters<\/span><\/h2>\n

The authorities are constantly monitoring and assessing the development of the situation on the security policy front. If a conflict emerges in Switzerland or a neighboring country, shelters are allocated to the population in advance. Shelters must be able to be prepared for operation and deployment within five days so that sufficient time remains to occupy them in an orderly manner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparation of shelters<\/span><\/h2>\n

On the order of the authorities, shelters must be cleared and, possibly under the guidance of civil defense, furnished for occupation. In principle, all material must be cleared except for technical installations (ventilation system, lighting). It is forbidden to deposit flammable material in the premises adjacent to the shelter (both to the side and above). Basement rooms adjacent to the shelter should be used to store supplies and items important for survival that have no place in the shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allocation of sheltered places<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cantons respectively municipalities are required to plan the allocation of the population to shelters and to update it continuously. The allocation to shelters is made known only when the situation on the security policy front makes it necessary. Various channels can be used for this purpose: for example, it can be published on the Internet, posted on the municipal notice board, sent by mail, and\/or communicated directly on site (e.g., with the support of civil defense). On the order of the authorities, people go to the furnished shelters assigned to them by the municipality or civil defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Occupation of shelters<\/span><\/h2>\n

A distinction is made between occupation of shelters as a preventive measure and occupation in case of imminent danger. Emergency supplies (especially drinks and long-shelf-life food) can largely be built up in advance in or near the shelter. The principle applies in the shelter that people must be able to sustain themselves for several days without outside help. In case of danger, the following points should be observed before leaving the shelter:<\/span><\/p>\n