5 things people most frequently ask the Rescue Service about taking cover

1. There are no public shelters in Estonia – where should I go?

It’s true that no new shelters have been built in Estonia since regaining independence. This is now gradually changing, as legal amendments will require shelters to be included in new buildings that attract large crowds. Since we’re essentially starting from scratch, building a sufficient shelter network will take decades.

In the meantime, when shelters are not yet available but protection may still be needed, we will make use of existing buildings as places to take cover. In the event of an explosion risk, conscious action can save you from serious injury or death: immediately take cover in an indoor space with strong walls, preferably on a lower floor and away from windows. Experience from the war in Ukraine shows that being outdoors or in a room with windows increases the risk of injury or death hundreds of times compared to being in a shelter.

1. What if I don’t hear the siren – how will I know there’s danger?

Sirens are only one part of the national emergency alert system and are currently used only in Estonia’s largest urban areas. Their purpose is to warn people who are outdoors. Indoors, sirens may not be audible due to various factors such as building soundproofing, weather conditions, and the location of the sirens.

In other cases, alerts must reach people through other channels, which currently include SMS messages, notifications via the “Estonia app” and “Be Ready!” mobile applications, and ticker texts on ERR channels such as ETV, ETV+, the ERR.ee portal, and the news app. Next year, a cell broadcast system is planned, which will allow alerts to be sent instantly and, depending on the threat level, activate sound and light notifications on phones—even when they are in silent mode. The emergency alert system must be continuously developed.

1. New developments and many other buildings may not have basements and are largely made of glass – what should I do?

In an emergency, ideal solutions may not always be available, and we must find the best possible option within the existing environment. The general recommendation is to go to a basement, but if one is not available, stay on the lowest possible floor and use other safer rooms. It’s important to stay away from windows, remain indoors, and ensure there are at least two solid walls between you and the outside. Such rooms are often bathrooms, toilets, or stairwells. There are various solutions, some offering better protection than others. If nothing else is available, even drawing thick curtains across windows can help a little. Unfortunately, being outside a building significantly increases the risk of injury in the event of an explosion.

1. Isn’t there a risk that the building will collapse if I go to the basement?

Experience from Ukraine shows that upper floors or entire sides of buildings may be severely damaged, but the structure often holds, and people have managed to take shelter safely on lower floors. Reinforcing basements or lower rooms—such as supporting ceilings or walls—can greatly improve safety, even in the event of structural collapse. Being unprotected outdoors carries a much higher risk of serious injury or death. When creating or adapting shelter spaces, it’s always worth considering additional exits in case the main exit is blocked due to collapse.

1. I’m on the street and there’s no public shelter nearby, only closed courtyards and private houses – what should I do?

If you’re outdoors and no indoor space is nearby, don’t just stand under the open sky during an explosion threat. The best way to protect yourself at that moment is to lie down in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. The most dangerous thing is to remain standing and visible. Taking cover means reducing your vulnerability—any barrier between you and the danger can save you from serious injury. Remember, in an explosion, the most dangerous elements are the high-speed fragments and objects that can strike you. That’s why you should stay as close to the ground as possible.

Only one in three people would act correctly and immediately take shelter upon hearing sirens or receiving an EE-ALARM alert. Many may unknowingly put themselves at risk: some would first seek information and react slowly, some would leave their current building to reach a distant public shelter, and some would do nothing at all.

Estonia is a safe and protected country, but confidence is strengthened by knowing that, if the situation demands it, we know how to act correctly. We can’t control every situation, but we can control how we respond. Taking cover is essential in situations where there is an immediate and serious threat to life and health—such as industrial accidents, explosion risks, military attacks, or other unexpected dangers.

Read more about taking cover here.