Short answer. As of 31 December 2025, Slovakia had 1,474 hardened and gas-tight public shelters with room for 264,038 people, about 4.15% of the 6,369,558 people to be sheltered 1. The plan relies mostly on 304,504 simple shelters built by self-help (JÚBS): suitable basements and rooms adapted after an emergency is declared, with 7,069,263 places 1. There is no national online map: ask your municipality 23.
How many shelters does Slovakia have?
The Interior Ministry's shelter overview, as of 31 December 2025 1:
| Type | Number | Places | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardened shelters (odolné úkryty, OÚ) | 904 | 185,852 | |
| Gas-tight shelters (plynotesné úkryty, PÚ) | 572 | 78,186 | |
| Hardened and gas-tight, total | 1,474 | 264,038 | 4.15% |
| Simple shelters built by self-help (JÚBS) | 304,504 | 7,069,263 | 111% |
People to be sheltered: 6,369,558 1.
A note on the total: the ministry table prints 1,474 shelters, while its own columns add up to 904 + 572 = 1,476. Capacities add up exactly (185,852 + 78,186 = 264,038) 1. We show the figure as printed.
What is a simple self-help shelter?
A JÚBS is an existing underground or above-ground space, such as a basement, that is adapted after an emergency is declared or in wartime, following the municipality's shelter plan 3. It must give partial protection against radiation and hazardous substances, with adequate structure, ventilation and sealing 3. The 111% coverage is on paper: these spaces are prepared when needed, not kept ready 13.
Hardened shelters are built for a stay of at least 5 days and gas-tight shelters for at least 2 days 3. Details: shelter standards.
How do I find my shelter?
No national online shelter map was found on the Interior Ministry's site. The system works through municipalities:
- Each municipality (obec) determines, as needed, suitable protective structures for its residents and arranges their adaptation (Act 42/1994, § 15(1)(e)) 2.
- Its shelter plan lists the hardened, gas-tight and simple shelters (Decree 532/2006) 3.
- The owner or administrator of each hardened or gas-tight shelter keeps its register sheet (evidenčný list) 3.
What to do: ask your municipal office, or the crisis management department of your district office (okresný úrad, odbor krízového riadenia), which shelter is assigned to your address 4. Ask at work too: businesses have their own shelter duties 3.
How far away should a shelter be?
Protective structures are placed where people are most concentrated, within 500 m walking distance, and at least 100 m from tanks of volatile toxic substances 3.
What do I bring to a shelter?
The ministry recommends a shelter bag of up to 15 kg per adult and 10 kg per child, with documents, medicines, a hygiene pack and food and water for at least 3 days 4. Pets, alcohol, lighters and cigarettes, and bulky items such as prams are not allowed 4. The full list is on the kit checklist.
Background: shelter or evacuate? and protection factor.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone in Slovakia have a shelter place?
In hardened and gas-tight shelters, about 4.15% of the people to be sheltered 1. The rest of the plan relies on simple self-help shelters adapted when needed 13.
Is there a shelter map for Slovakia?
No national online map was found on the ministry's site. Your municipality's shelter plan lists the shelters 3.
Do I have a right to shelter?
Yes. Act 42/1994, § 17 gives every person the right to timely warning, evacuation and shelter, and to information on how to protect themselves 2.
Can I bring my dog to a public shelter?
No. Pets are on the list of items not allowed in the shelter bag guidance 4. See pets for planning ahead.
Sources
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, oddelenie civilnej ochrany — Prehľad ukrytia na území Slovenskej republiky za rok 2025 (stav k 31. 12. 2025) — https://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/civilna_ochrana/dokument_skr/co_oddelenie/Prehlad%20ukrytia%20na%20uzemi%20Slovenskej%20republiky%20k%2031.12.2025.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR — Zákon Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky č. 42/1994 Z. z. o civilnej ochrane obyvateľstva (znenie od 1. 7. 2025) — https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/1994/42/20250701.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR — Vyhláška MV SR č. 532/2006 Z. z. o podrobnostiach na zabezpečenie stavebnotechnických požiadaviek a technických podmienok zariadení civilnej ochrany (znenie od 1. 1. 2013) — https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2006/532/20130101.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia — Civilná ochrana — https://www.minv.sk/?Civilna_ochrana (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Slovakia, worked out for your household.
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- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, oddelenie civilnej ochrany · Prehľad ukrytia na území Slovenskej republiky za rok 2025 (stav k 31. 12. 2025) checked 2026-10-20
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR · Zákon Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky č. 42/1994 Z. z. o civilnej ochrane obyvateľstva (znenie od 1. 7. 2025) checked 2026-10-20
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR · Vyhláška MV SR č. 532/2006 Z. z. o podrobnostiach na zabezpečenie stavebnotechnických požiadaviek a technických podmienok zariadení civilnej ochrany (znenie od 1. 1. 2013) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia · Civilná ochrana checked 2026-10-20