Short answer. The United States has no maintained national network of public fallout or blast shelters, and no national count is published 14. Disaster (mass care) shelters are opened case by case; text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 or use the FEMA App to find one 13. After a nuclear detonation, go into the nearest solid building and stay in its most protective part for at least 24 hours 2.
Do Cold War fallout shelters still exist?
Some do, but they are no longer a national system. FEMA's design guidance states: "Currently, standalone shelters are relatively rare and most remaining shelters are remnants of the Cold War era that were designed for nuclear weapons protection as 'fallout shelters.'" 4 No national inventory of nuclear shelters is published, and the number of remaining shelters is not published either 14.
How do I find an open shelter during a disaster?
Shelters for people displaced by a disaster, called mass care shelters, are opened case by case when an emergency happens 1. There are two official ways to find one:
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Text message | Text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (standard message rates apply) 1 |
| FEMA App | "It can also help you find a nearby shelter if you need to evacuate to a safe space." 3 |
Where should I shelter after a nuclear detonation?
Official guidance does not rely on public shelters. It tells you to use the nearest solid building 2:
- After a detonation, you have 10 minutes or more to find adequate shelter before fallout arrives 2.
- The safest buildings have brick or concrete walls 2.
- Underground parking garages and subways can also offer shelter 2.
- Stay in the most protective location, such as a basement or the center of the building, for the first 24 hours 2.
Why basements and the middle of large buildings protect better is explained in our guide to the protection factor. How fast fallout weakens is covered in the 7-10 rule, and when to leave in shelter in place or evacuate.
Who decides where shelters open?
Mass care shelters are opened case by case, after a disaster 1. FEMA coordinates federal preparedness; states and localities run the response. Follow the instructions given in official alerts, described on our U.S. alerts page.
If you are thinking of a shelter at home, see building a shelter in the U.S. and U.S. shelter standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a map of public nuclear shelters in the U.S.?
No national inventory of nuclear shelters is published 14. For open disaster shelters, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 or use the FEMA App 13.
How much time do I have to find shelter after a nuclear explosion?
Ready.gov says 10 minutes or more before fallout arrives 2. Go to the nearest brick or concrete building 2.
How long should I stay inside?
At least the first 24 hours, in the most protective part of the building 2.
Can a subway station or parking garage serve as a shelter?
Ready.gov lists underground parking garages and subways as places that can shelter you 2.
Sources
- FEMA / Ready.gov — Shelter — https://www.ready.gov/shelter (accessed 2026-10-20)
- FEMA / Ready.gov — Radiation Emergencies — https://www.ready.gov/radiation (accessed 2026-10-20)
- FEMA — FEMA Mobile Products — https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products (accessed 2026-10-20)
- FEMA / Ready.gov — FEMA 453 Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms (2006), Chapter 1: Design Considerations — https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/design-considerations-chapter-1.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for United States, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- FEMA / Ready.gov · Shelter checked 2026-10-20
- FEMA / Ready.gov · Radiation Emergencies checked 2026-10-20
- FEMA · FEMA Mobile Products checked 2026-10-20
- FEMA / Ready.gov · FEMA 453 Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms (2006), Chapter 1: Design Considerations checked 2026-10-20