Estonia's crisis preparedness is improving, but the country faces a critical shortage of shelters. Currently, there are only around 300 shelters available, which is a small fraction of what Estonia needs.
What happened
The shortage of shelters has become a major challenge for the country, with Interior Minister Igor Taro stating that the situation is most critical in this area. Recent crises, such as a large part of Tallinn being left without water for several hours at New Year's and drones straying from Russian airspace, have highlighted the need for improved preparedness.
To address the issue, the government is working to adapt existing buildings and add mobile shelters. Grants are available for apartment associations to convert basements into shelters, but they have not been widely used. Tallinn Deputy Mayor Tiit Terik noted that the city has €1.5 million in its budget for apartment associations to adapt basements, but the funds are not being utilized.
In addition to adapting existing buildings, the government plans to establish mobile shelters in areas with limited options. Starting this year, all new large buildings, including apartment buildings, must be built with a proper shelter. However, the Rescue Board has expressed concern about the preparedness of schools and kindergartens, stating that the situation is "still very worrying" and that more needs to be done to protect children.
