Good to know about civil defence shelters
There are many civil defence shelters around Sweden, which protect the population in the event of war. In peacetime, the shelters may be used for other purposes, but they must be ready for use within 48 hours.
When a civil defence shelter is ready for use, there must be water in storage containers, heating, ventilation and toilet facilities. In a war situation, you must be prepared for disruptions to the shelter’s supply of water, electricity and heating. Food and items like hygiene products are not provided in shelters. See the checklist further down the page.
Civil defence shelters are designed for a certain number of people. If you use the shelter for the optimum number of people, you should be able to stay there for at least three days in a row.
Civil defence shelters provide protection against shockwaves and bomb fragments. They also protect against the blast and heat waves from a nuclear weapon. Shelters provide better protection than other spaces when it comes to radioactive fallout, gas from chemical weapons, and biological weapons.
Find your nearest civil defence shelter
Civil defence shelters during peacetime
There are around 64,000 civil defence shelters in Sweden, with space for around seven million people. Shelters can be found in various types of buildings, such as residential and industrial properties, and are marked with a special sign. In peacetime, a civil defence shelter can be used for other purposes.
The location of civil defence shelters in Sweden is determined by various threat analyses. It has never been the goal to build shelters for the entire population. Your location determines your need of a shelter.
Civil defence shelters during a state of heightened alert or war
If the civil defence shelter must be used during a war, or if the government declares a heightened state of alert, it must be possible to set up the shelter within 48 hours. The property owner is obligated to ensure that the shelter is properly prepared.
Locate shelters or other protective structures close to your home, school and workplace. In the event of an air raid alarm, you should proceed immediately to a civil defence shelter or other protective space such as a cellar, garage, or below-ground metro station.
Good to know
You are not designated a specific civil defence shelter – evacuate to the nearest one.
Good to bring to the shelter
- Bottled or canned water.
- Food that can be eaten at room temperature.
- Personal hygiene items.
- Toilet paper.
- Medicines.
- First aid kit.
- Warm clothing.
- Valuables (ID card/driver’s licence, cash, credit card).
- Keys.
- Mobile phone and charger or power bank.
- Torch.