---
title: Civil protection glossary: shelter, KAS, evacuation — InCaseMap
description: Short definitions of civil protection terms: shelter, KAS shelter, evacuation point, air raid alert, public warning, 72-hour supplies, ford and more.
url: https://incasemap.com/en/glossary
updated: 2026-10-08
language: en
publisher: InCaseMap
---

> Index of all pages on this site: https://incasemap.com/en/llms.txt — start there to find other pages.

# Civil protection glossary

Short, clear definitions of the words you hear in announcements and see on the InCaseMap map.

Prepared by the [InCaseMap team](https://incasemap.com/en/about) · Updated 8 October 2026

>  **In short:** a shelter is for hiding briefly from an immediate threat; a KAS shelter is for longer stays during an emergency or war. An evacuation point is a place where evacuated residents gather and are registered. An air raid alert means you must go to the nearest shelter immediately. The InCaseMap map shows all of these places and works offline too.

## Terms

**Shelter **
A building or part of one (usually a basement or other underground space) where you can quickly hide for a short time from an immediate threat, for example when an air raid alert is announced. [More: Shelters and KAS shelters](https://incasemap.com/en/shelters-and-bomb-shelters)

**KAS shelter (collective protection structure, often called a bomb shelter) **
A place set aside by the municipality where residents can stay for longer during an emergency, evacuation or war. Marked with the international civil defence sign — a blue triangle on an orange background.

**Evacuation point **
A pre-designated place where evacuated residents gather and are registered, and from which onward travel to a safe place is organised. [More: Evacuation](https://incasemap.com/en/evacuation)

**Evacuation **
The organised departure of residents from an area where staying becomes dangerous.

**Air raid alert **
A warning of a threat from the air. When you hear or receive it, go immediately to the nearest shelter or KAS shelter. [What to do](https://incasemap.com/en/sirens-and-air-raid-alerts)

**Public warning **
The ways people are told about imminent or ongoing danger: sirens, alerts to mobile phones, LRT radio and television.

**Siren **
An audible public warning signal. When you hear it, turn on LRT and follow official announcements.

**Emergency **
A situation where a natural disaster, accident, war or other event threatens people's lives, health or property and urgent action is needed.

**Civil protection **
Protecting the population and preparing for emergencies, managing them and dealing with their consequences.

**72-hour supplies **
Supplies of water, food, medicines and other essentials that let you manage on your own for at least three days. [Checklist](https://incasemap.com/en/72-hour-preparedness)

**Places to avoid **
Sites that could be targets in wartime: military, energy, oil, gas and chemical sites, and the port. [More: Places to avoid](https://incasemap.com/en/places-to-avoid)

**Underground car park **
An underground parking garage. It is not an official shelter, but during an emergency it may be safer than being in the open.

**Ford **
A shallow place in a river where a road or path crosses the water and you can walk or drive across without a bridge.

**LRT **
Lithuanian National Radio and Television — the public broadcaster that relays official announcements during emergencies. Its radio works without internet too.

**112 **
The general emergency number: ambulance, fire service and police.

**Community (InCaseMap) **
A chat with neighbours — all of Lithuania, a city, a village or a building. It opens once 10 people have joined. [More: Communities](https://incasemap.com/en/communities)

**Family group (InCaseMap) **
A private chat for family or friends with an “I'm safe” / “I need help” status and location sharing. [More: Family group](https://incasemap.com/en/family-group)

## Related

- [Guides](https://incasemap.com/en/guides): Short, clear guides: shelters and KAS shelters, sirens and air raid alerts, 72-hour preparedness, evacuation and information without internet. Based on official guidance.
- [Shelters and KAS shelters](https://incasemap.com/en/shelters-and-bomb-shelters): A shelter is for hiding briefly from an immediate threat; a KAS shelter is for longer stays during an emergency or war. How to recognise and find them.
- [Categories](https://incasemap.com/en/categories): InCaseMap place catalogue: 27 categories in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland — shelters, KAS shelters, evacuation points, sirens, healthcare, water, bridges.
- [FAQ](https://incasemap.com/en/faq): All common questions in one place: shelters and KAS shelters, sirens and air raids, 72-hour preparedness, evacuation, power outages, offline map, family group and communities.