22:17 4 July 2026
PLN 5 bln planned for local governments for shelters
Around PLN 5 bln from Poland’s Civil Protection and Civil Defense Program is to go directly to local governments, while the full program is worth nearly PLN 34 bln for 2025-2026. Poland is returning to planning collective protection facilities after almost 30 years, but experts warn that the main challenge will not be building shelters, but creating systems that work in a crisis. New facilities should have clear managers, procedures, maintenance funding and a role in local emergency plans.
Dual-use buildings, such as schools, sports halls or underground parking lots, could serve everyday functions and become shelters or storage sites during emergencies. Experts say local governments must focus on resilience systems, not isolated shelters.
