Poland has launched the service gdziesieukryc.pl (“Where to Hide”), which helps people quickly find the nearest places for temporary shelter in case of danger. The platform is meant to help residents get their bearings faster in an emergency and reach a safe location.
The service points to temporary shelter sites — existing structures such as underpasses, tunnels, metro stations, large underground garages, and similar buildings. These are not full-scale shelters for a prolonged stay, but places that can offer short-term protection in a threat, including strong winds, falling debris, or an airborne hazard. The database currently contains about 70,000 sites; estimates suggest they could shelter around 20 million people. The data are verified by the State Fire Service and civil protection authorities.
A user enters a location or turns on GPS, sees the nearest points on a map, and can start navigation. Basic data can be downloaded in advance so the service works offline. Access is free, with no registration and no ads. For now it is a website; later it is planned as an app and as part of mObywatel.
According to Professor Jarosław Stelmach, a security expert and president of Safety Project, Poland needs to prepare better for various threats, and security issues should become a long-term priority. He notes that until now little has been done in the country to create safe places in case of a threat, and that much of the responsibility lies with local authorities, whose capacity is limited. In his assessment, there are still not enough proper safe shelters for Poles on the eastern flank.
Official sources stress that the tool does not replace the civil defense system and does not guarantee that a listed site will be open and equipped at any given moment. It is a reference point meant to shorten reaction time if danger appears suddenly.
