Lithuania proposes informing residents about their assigned shelters

Lithuania is considering a legislative change that would require authorities to proactively inform residents about their designated civil defense shelters. The proposal, introduced by Linas Jonauskas, chairman of the Seimas Committee on Environmental Protection, and other members of the Social Democratic faction, aims to enhance public safety during emergencies.

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The declared red air raid signal and the accompanying chaos and public confusion clearly showed the problem – even with various 'Day X' preparation campaigns, people still don't know how to react in case of an air raid, which shelter belongs to them, where it is. Next time, such ignorance could be fatal.

If the amendment to the Crisis Management and Civil Protection Law is approved by the Seimas, citizens would receive personal notifications about the nearest shelter assigned to them based on their registered residential address. This notification system would be activated during air raid alerts, acts of aggression, or martial law. In cases where a specific shelter cannot be assigned, or if a resident is not at their registered address, they would be informed about the closest publicly accessible alternative shelters or other protection methods.

Jonauskas explained that the proposal seeks to ensure clearer communication regarding civil protection infrastructure, increase public readiness for extreme situations, and manage the risks of mass crowds and chaos during emergencies. He cited the recent chaos and confusion following an air raid alert, highlighting that many people still do not know how to react or where their designated shelter is located. "This ignorance could be fatal next time," he stated.

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Without clear and advance distribution of residents, there is a real threat that a large number of people will instinctively try to get into the same, visually best-known or publicly more visible shelters.

The parliamentarian expressed concern that without a clear, pre-assigned distribution of people, a large number might instinctively flock to the same, most visible shelters. This could lead to dangerous stampedes at entrances, logistical chaos, and an overburdening of infrastructure, potentially causing additional casualties and injuries in a panic situation. While information on shelters is currently available on special portals and maps, Jonauskas noted that not everyone is aware of these resources, especially older individuals or those experiencing internet disruptions. "Every resident should be personally informed in advance about where and how they can hide during an extreme situation, to protect themselves and their family," he urged.

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Every resident should be personally informed in advance about where and how they can hide during an extreme situation, to protect themselves and their family.