Where are the public shelters in Singapore?

Short answer. Singapore has more than 590 Civil Defence (CD) public shelters, in MRT stations, HDB blocks, schools, community centres and other buildings (SCDF, 17 July 2026) ¹. Find the nearest one on OneMap or in SCDF's downloadable list, and look for the CD shelter sign ²³. Household and storey shelters in homes remain the primary form of wartime shelter ³⁴.

How many public shelters does Singapore have?

SCDF counts more than 590 public shelters, which it describes as "integrated into places people use every day" ¹. They are built into:

• MRT stations;
• HDB blocks;
• schools;
• community centres and clubs;
• other developments ¹².

Are public shelters the main form of protection?

No. The SCDF handbook calls Household and Storey Shelters "the primary forms of sheltering the civilian population during a Wartime Emergency" ⁴. Every new house and flat must have a household shelter, or a storey shelter on each storey for blocks of flats; see Building a shelter in Singapore.

For homes without a shelter, the handbook describes Improvised Cover At Home (ICAH). It says it "would be relatively safer to stay home under improvised cover than to move out to a public shelter during an attack." ⁴ Moving to a public shelter is therefore not automatically the safest choice once an attack has started.

How do I find my nearest public shelter?

SCDF gives three ways ²³:

1. OneMap: Menu > Nearby > Safety and Security > Civil Defence Public Shelters.
2. SCDF's PDF list of CD public shelters (June 2026 edition).
3. The CD shelter sign displayed at shelters.

It is worth checking before any emergency, so you already know the route.

When should I go to a shelter?

The Public Warning System's Alarm signal (wailing blasts) means an air raid or danger is approaching: move to a Civil Defence shelter immediately ⁴. The All Clear signal (continuous blasts) means the threat is over: leave the shelter in an orderly manner ⁴. See Emergency alerts in Singapore.

For the general logic of staying put or leaving, see Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency? and What is a shelter's protection factor?.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a public shelter map for Singapore?

Yes. OneMap shows Civil Defence Public Shelters under Menu > Nearby > Safety and Security ²³.

Are MRT stations shelters?

Some are. SCDF lists MRT stations among the places where public shelters are built ¹².

Should I go to a public shelter if I have a shelter at home?

Household and storey shelters are the primary wartime shelters ⁴. Follow the instructions given through the Public Warning System and official channels.

What if my home has no shelter?

The handbook describes Improvised Cover At Home and says staying home under improvised cover would be relatively safer than moving to a public shelter during an attack ⁴.

Sources

1. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) — The People Behind SCDF's Public Shelters — https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/about-scdf/media-room/our-stories/storyarticledetail/the-people-behind-scdf's-public-shelters (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) — About Civil Defence Shelter — https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/civil-defence-shelter/about-civil-defence-shelter (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) — Types of Shelter — https://scdf.gov.sg/home/civil-defence-shelter/types-of-shelter (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) — Civil Defence Emergency Handbook (10th edition, 2026) – English — https://www.scdf.gov.sg/docs/default-source/comm.---volunteers-(docs)/2026-scdf-emergency-handbook(eng)_16-oct.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)