The two-wall rule
There should be at least two walls between you and the outside. The first stops most of the blast wave and fragments, the second stops what gets through the first. The rule works vertically too: on the top floor you are closer to the roof, so it is safer to go lower.
It does not replace a real shelter, but it is the safest choice when you can’t reach one within a few minutes. The Ministry of Environment advises finding a safe place at home first rather than travelling an hour to a shelter.
Where to take cover in a flat
- A hallway or entrance hall without windows — usually the safest place in a flat.
- A bathroom or toilet inside the flat, if it has no window to the outside.
- If you live on an upper floor, go lower — to the lower floors or the basement, if you can get there and it is unlocked.
Avoid: rooms with windows to the street, balconies, glass doors, the top floor and the lift — you could get stuck if the power goes out.
Where to take cover in a house
- A basement or other underground room, if it is easy to get out of.
- If there is no basement — an inner room on the ground floor without windows, as far as possible from outer walls and doors.
- Don’t take cover in the attic, by glass doors or in a conservatory.
How to prepare the place in advance
- Choose the safest place and talk it through with your family, so nobody has to think about it during an alert.
- Keep water, a torch, a battery radio, a first aid kit and a power bank for your phone there. The full list — 72-hour preparedness.
- When an alert is issued, switch off the lights, draw the curtains and close inside doors. You can tape the windows.
- If you take cover in a basement, tell neighbours or relatives where you are.
Shelter sign (“Shelter” sticker): what it means
The “Priedanga” (Shelter) sign marks places that municipalities have named as suitable for taking cover for a short time. But not all of them are unlocked around the clock, not all are accessible to people with disabilities, and during an air raid alert in Vilnius some were overcrowded. So check the nearest ones in advance: where the entrance is, whether it is unlocked and how many minutes it takes to get there.
On the InCaseMap map you can filter shelters by whether they are open around the clock and accessible to people with disabilities. How a shelter differs from a KAS shelter — shelters and KAS shelters.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the safest place in a flat during an air raid alert?
A room with at least two walls between you and the outside: usually the hallway, the entrance hall or a bathroom without windows. Away from windows, balconies and glass doors.
Can I take cover in the bathroom?
Yes, if the bathroom is inside the flat and has no window to the outside. It is one of the safer places in a flat.
What should I do if I live on the top floor?
Go lower — to the lower floors or the basement, if you can get there. Don’t use the lift: you could get stuck if the power goes out.
Does a “Shelter” sign mean the place is really open and safe?
Not necessarily. It is a place named by the municipality for taking cover for a short time, but it may be locked, not accessible or overcrowded. Check it in advance.
What if I can’t reach a shelter within a few minutes?
Stay in the building and go to a room without windows with solid walls and ceiling. This is also the LT72 advice.
Sources
- How to act when you see a drone, get an air raid warning or find a suspicious object — lt72.lt (in Lithuanian) lt72.lt
- The State Food and Veterinary Service proposes special shelters for residents with pets — LRT (in Lithuanian) lrt.lt
- Air raid alert in Vilnius revealed gaps in civil protection — 15min (in Lithuanian) 15min.lt
This text summarises official guidance and does not replace instructions from the authorities. During an emergency, follow announcements from LRT and the authorities.
You may freely use this text and its data, commercially too — just add a link: <a href="https://incasemap.com/en/where-to-shelter-at-home">InCaseMap</a> (more)