The „Gdzie się ukryć PL” („Where to Hide PL”) app of the State Fire Service (PSP) has been available on the App Store and Google Play since Monday, 2 November, the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) announced. The free tool contains over 88,000 shelter points and guides users to them even without internet access.
The ministry’s statement appeared on the MSWiA profile on X on Monday morning. According to the ministry, the shelter points included in the database can accommodate 24 million people. The application was prepared by the PSP Main Headquarters. Until now it operated as a website, gdziesieukryc.pl, and can now be installed on a phone.
What the App Can Do
With just a few taps, the app can point the way to the shelter point closest to the user’s location. It shows a list of the nearest places with a route, distance and walking time. For each point it provides the address, type of facility, availability and GPS coordinates.
Along the way, navigation issues voice prompts, for example „you are getting closer” or „you are moving away from the destination”. The map can rotate in line with the direction the phone is moving. The app also has a „call 112” button, which connects to the emergency number.
Two interfaces are available: a full version with a map, and a simplified one. The latter is for people who find working with an on-screen map difficult. It shows the nearest points without marking them on a map, gives direction and distance, and issues voice prompts. The app supports screen readers for blind and visually impaired users, allows text to be enlarged, and offers a light or dark theme.
Shelter Points Are Not Bunkers
MSWiA reminds that the obligation to make a shelter point available arises only when a threat occurs or an alarm is announced. For this reason, some facilities may be unavailable on a day-to-day basis. Firefighters inform building owners when such points are designated in their buildings.
The app replaces the earlier „Schrony” („Bunkers”) service. According to information published with its first version, the data is based on an inventory of facilities from 2022–2023, and hermetic shelters with the highest protection category are outside the list, as their verification is being handled separately. Therefore, the figure of 88,000 mainly refers to protective spaces, such as basements and underground garages, rather than bunkers in the strict sense.
What It Means
The app can be downloaded for free on Android and iPhone. MSWiA recommends doing so in advance, because in an emergency every minute counts. Since the tool works offline, it is worth checking whether the data for your area has been downloaded to your phone and whether the nearest point is accessible. The link to the app in the stores and the gdziesieukryc.pl website are provided in the MSWiA statement.
