Germany is preparing to construct up to a million shelters in response to escalating fears of a military attack in Europe. This initiative, led by Ralf Tiesler, head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK), is projected to cost around 30 billion euros.
Tiesler mentioned in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung that various facilities, including tunnels, subway stations, underground parking garages, and public building basements, need to be adequately prepared for emergency use. A comprehensive plan is expected to be unveiled this summer, detailing provisions for long-term sheltering, including access to water, food, and camp beds. This budget will also entail the enhancement of alarm systems, building on the existing NINA early warning app.
Currently, Germany has very few operational shelters due to a lack of investment in their upkeep since 2007. Tiesler emphasized that the federal government has officially ceased the operational maintenance of public shelters. There are 579 public shelters available, designed to accommodate approximately 477,593 individuals, including underground garages, train stations, and hospitals originally constructed to withstand World War II air raids.
Simultaneously, there is a rising demand for private shelters throughout Europe, with a significant number located in Germany, France, and the Baltic states.
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