Where are public shelters in the Czech Republic?

Short answer. The Czech Republic has permanent shelters (stálé úkryty) in the underground parts of buildings, plus the Prague metro protection system ². Regional fire and rescue services keep the register, and locations, protection class and capacity are published on the Terinos map at terinos.izscr.cz ²⁴. A 2006 fire-service methodology says the stock covers only about 10% of the population ³; most people would use improvised shelters in ordinary buildings ²³.

What kinds of shelter exist in the Czech Republic?

Decree 380/2002 Sb. distinguishes two families ⁷:

• Permanent shelters (stálé úkryty): pressure-resistant and non-pressure-resistant shelters, plus shelters in underground transport systems such as the Prague metro ²⁷.
• Improvised shelters (improvizované úkryty): suitable spaces in ordinary buildings, adapted when needed (§ 16) ⁷. Municipal offices are expected to keep records of them ².

How many shelter places are there?

No current national total is published on the official sources we consulted. The 2006 fire-service methodology states: "Současný úkrytový fond svou kapacitou může pokrýt potřeby ukrytí pouze pro cca 10 % obyvatel ČR" (the current shelter stock can cover the needs of only about 10% of the population) ³. In October 2024 the Interior Ministry said no newly built shelter had been added to the register since the start of 2022 ¹.

In practice, this means most residents would shelter in an improvised space in their own building or a nearby solid building, not in a dedicated public shelter.

How do I find my nearest shelter?

1. Open the Terinos map at terinos.izscr.cz/client/ ⁴.
2. Click Seznam vrstev (layer list) and select ukrytí (sheltering) ².
3. Click a shelter to see its details. The odolnost field (STOÚ_3, STOÚ_4 or STOÚ_5) gives its design protection class ².

Prague also publishes its own map at bezpecnost.praha.eu/mapy/ukryti-a-sireny ². For improvised shelters, ask your municipal office (obecní úřad), which is expected to keep records of them ².

Do this now, not during an alert. Note the address of the nearest shelter for your home and workplace.

What should I do first when the siren sounds?

Go immediately into the nearest solid masonry building ⁵⁶. The right place inside depends on the threat ⁵⁶:

Close windows and doors, switch off ventilation, and follow radio or TV ⁶. Signals and broadcasters: Czech alerts. Background: shelter or evacuate? and protection factor.

How many people can a shelter take?

Under § 15 of Decree 380/2002 Sb., shelter capacity may be exceeded by at most 20% if the situation requires ⁷. Technical requirements are on our shelter standards page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a map of shelters in the Czech Republic?

Yes. The fire service's Terinos map shows permanent shelters under the ukrytí layer, with protection class and capacity ²⁴. Prague has its own map as well ².

Is there a shelter place for everyone?

No. A 2006 fire-service methodology puts the coverage at about 10% of the population ³. No current national total is published on the sources we consulted.

Are new public shelters being built?

The Interior Ministry said in October 2024 that no newly built shelter had been added to the register since the start of 2022 ¹.

What is an improvised shelter?

A suitable space in an ordinary building, adapted for protection when needed ³⁷. Your municipal office is expected to keep records of them ².

Sources

1. Ministerstvo vnitra — generální ředitelství HZS ČR — Sdělení k žádosti o informace (č. j. MV-152564-4/PO-OVL-2024) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/mv-152564-4-po-ovl-2024-fin-a-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Hasičský záchranný sbor Moravskoslezského kraje — Poskytnutí informací dle zákona č. 106/1999 Sb. (č. j. HSOS-546-2/2026) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/2026-01-26-poskytnuti-informaci-red-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Ministerstvo vnitra — generální ředitelství HZS ČR — Metodika výběru a úprav vhodných prostorů k vybudování improvizovaných úkrytů k ochraně obyvatelstva před průmyslovými škodlivinami a látkami CBRN (prosinec 2006) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/metodika-vyberu-a-uprav-vhodnych-prostoru-k-vybudovani-improvizovanych-ukrytu-k-ochrane-obyvatelstva-pred-prumyslovymi-skodlivinami-a-latkami-cbrn-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. HZS ČR / IZS — Terinos — mapa stálých úkrytů — https://terinos.izscr.cz/client/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Ministerstvo vnitra ČR — 72 hodin — Nouzové zásoby / Voda / Ukrytí — https://www.72h.gov.cz/cs/nouzove-zasoby (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Hasičský záchranný sbor ČR (HZS Moravskoslezského kraje) — Varování a informování obyvatelstva (Učitelské noviny, 16. článek cyklu) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/14-varovani-obyvatelstva-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. Ministerstvo vnitra ČR (Sbírka zákonů) — Vyhláška č. 380/2002 Sb., k přípravě a provádění úkolů ochrany obyvatelstva — https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2002-380 (accessed 2026-10-20)