Short answer. Estonia's public sheltering places (avalikud varjumiskohad) carry the civil protection sign and are listed on an official Land Board (Maa-amet) map, also reachable from olevalmis.ee 12. Most are closed day to day and open only when the military threat increases; at home or at work, shelter where you are, on the lowest floor, with at least two walls between you and the outdoors 13.
How do I find the nearest public shelter in Estonia?
Use the official map of public sheltering places published by the Rescue Board on the Land Board's map service: https://xgis.maaamet.ee/xgis2/page/app/paasteamet_varjumiskohad 2. The map is also reachable from the Rescue Board's preparedness site olevalmis.ee 1. When the map was published in January 2023, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported that the places were also shown in the "Ole valmis!" app 2.
On the ground, public sheltering places are marked with the civil protection sign 1.
Are public shelters open all the time?
No. Most public sheltering places are closed day to day and open only when the military threat increases 1. Check the map now, while nothing is happening, and note the places closest to your home, school and workplace.
What should I do if I cannot reach a public shelter?
The Rescue Board's main advice is to shelter where you are. At home or at work, go to the lowest floor and put at least two walls between yourself and the outdoors 3. When a siren sounds, its single meaning is to seek shelter immediately in the nearest indoor space, away from windows 4.
If you live in an apartment building, the Rescue Board has published recommendations for adapting basements as sheltering places (2025) 5; see the shelter standards page. For the general choice between staying and leaving, see /guides/shelter-or-evacuate, and for chemical incidents, /guides/chemical-shelter-in-place.
How many public shelters does Estonia have?
Phaenyx found no official total on government pages; press figures vary over time 12. The map is the reference for what exists near you.
Do new buildings have to include public shelters?
Yes, since 1 July 2026. Under the Emergency Act as amended, a public shelter must be built when a building is erected that is visited by crowds because of its use, or whose closed net area is at least 10,000 m² 6. The text reads: "Avalik varjend rajatakse, kui püstitatakse hoone, mille kasutusotstarbe tõttu külastavad seda rahvahulgad või mille suletud netopind on vähemalt 10 000 ruutmeetrit." 6
This was read in the wording valid from 1 July to 30 September 2026. The Emergency Act is reported repealed from 1 October 2026 by the Crisis Situation and National Defence Act, whose wording Phaenyx has not read; check the current law before relying on this threshold. Technical requirements for shelters are on the shelter standards page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app showing Estonian shelters?
ERR reported in January 2023 that public sheltering places were shown in the Rescue Board's "Ole valmis!" app as well as on the Land Board map 2.
Can I go to a public shelter right now?
Most are closed day to day and open only when the military threat increases 1.
What makes a room in my home a better place to shelter?
The Rescue Board points to the lowest floor and at least two walls between you and the outdoors, away from windows 34. The guide /guides/protection-factor explains why mass and distance matter.
What should I take with me?
The official supply lists are built around at least one week of self-reliance 7; see the emergency supplies page and the kit list.
Sources
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! — Frequently asked questions — https://www.olevalmis.ee/en/frequently-asked-questions (accessed 2026-10-20)
- ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) — Päästeamet avaldas avalike varjumiskohtade kaardi — https://www.err.ee/1608862367/paasteamet-avaldas-avalike-varjumiskohtade-kaardi (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! — Seeking shelter — https://www.olevalmis.ee/en/seeking-shelter (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! — Public warning system known as EE-ALARM — https://www.olevalmis.ee/en/public-warning-system-known-as-ee-alarm (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Päästeamet — Soovitused korterelamute keldrite varjumiskohtadeks kohandamisel (2025-04-09) — https://www.rescue.ee/files/Materjalid/2025-04-09-soovitused-korterelamute-keldrite-varjumiskohtadeks-kohandamisel-a4-veeb.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Riigi Teataja — Hädaolukorra seadus (redaktsioon 01.07.2026–30.09.2026), §§ 16^2–16^4, 22–24 — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/et/akt/130122025020 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Päästeamet (Estonian Rescue Board) – Ole valmis! — Emergency supplies — https://www.olevalmis.ee/en/emergency-supplies (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Estonia, worked out for your household.
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- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! · Frequently asked questions checked 2026-10-20
- ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) · Päästeamet avaldas avalike varjumiskohtade kaardi checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! · Seeking shelter checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! · Public warning system known as EE-ALARM checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet · Soovitused korterelamute keldrite varjumiskohtadeks kohandamisel (2025-04-09) checked 2026-10-20
- Riigi Teataja · Hädaolukorra seadus (redaktsioon 01.07.2026–30.09.2026), §§ 16^2–16^4, 22–24 checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet (Estonian Rescue Board) – Ole valmis! · Emergency supplies checked 2026-10-20