Warsaw City Hall has begun procuring thousands of units of emergency equipment including thermoses, flasks, sleeping bags and stretchers as part of a program to transform metro stations into civil defense shelters capable of housing over 100,000 people simultaneously.
The initiative, titled Underground Shield, involves adapting stations and technical facilities to store emergency equipment in cooperation with the fire service. Dedicated zones are being established for water supplies, stretchers, blankets and other essential equipment, with technical spaces already being prepared to house the gear.
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced the project on X, stating metro stations will be integrated into Warsaw’s civil defense system, transforming the underground infrastructure from purely transportation use into shelters that can assist during emergencies or potential war.
Particular attention is being given to the shelters’ autonomy, with city authorities procuring generators and additional equipment to ensure independent operation. The technical rooms at stations are being modernized to support autonomous shelter function.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Wesław Lesniakiewicz stated authorities are studying Ukraine’s experience of surviving during war and preparing to act in crisis situations. He added that every Polish person should prepare for the most challenging times.
The city hall emphasized this represents only the first stage of a significant program aimed at increasing Warsaw’s readiness for possible crisis scenarios. Plans foresee phased deployment of protective facilities with modernization of stations’ technical rooms continuing beyond the initial equipment procurement phase.
The Underground Shield program unfolds as part of a broader strategy to boost the city’s readiness for various crisis scenarios and reduce risks to the population. The metro’s existing infrastructure provides the foundation for rapid conversion to shelter use given its underground location and existing technical facilities.
