Finnish apartment building sets example with clear emergency plans and hidden escape route

An apartment building in Oulu has become a model for emergency preparedness, with residents required to clear storage spaces in its fully equipped civil defence shelter by May Day week, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The building’s safety committee chair, Esa Hämäläinen, told Yle that the measure ensures the shelter—doubling as a storage area—can be activated within the legally required 72 hours in a crisis. “When things start happening across borders, it’s good to have spaces ready,” he said. Without advance planning, clearing the storage units would take too long.

Built in the 1960s, the property’s shelter was constructed to high standards and has been meticulously maintained by residents for decades. It includes a little-known “secret passage” leading to the courtyard, designed as an emergency exit if main routes are blocked. The shelter is also stocked with supplies like portable toilets and camping stools, though residents must bring their own essentials—water, food, bedding, medication, and sanitation items—if activated.

Finland has over 50,500 civil defence shelters, providing space for 4.8 million people. By law, buildings over 1,200 sq m must include shelters, often repurposed as storage. While a 2022 Interior Ministry review found most shelters in good condition, minor issues like worn seals or outdated radio batteries were easily fixable, said project manager Ira Pasi. The war in Ukraine has since prompted many housing associations to verify their shelters’ readiness.

The ministry has issued updated guidelines for emergency preparedness, stressing that shelters are just one option—people may need to take cover wherever they are, including workplaces or shops. Oulu’s building also organises “safety walks” to familiarise residents with procedures, reinforcing that preparedness is a shared responsibility.