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CatastropheGermany

Germany's unusable bunkers reveals issues in emergency prep

Tobias Dammers
March 10, 2026

None of Germany's roughly 600 public shelters are currently operational, making the country poorly prepared for emergencies. The federal government is depending on citizens to take personal precautions.

https://p.dw.com/p/59Ybn

A hidden Cold Warshelter beneath a Cologne subway station reveals how 2,300 people were once meant to survive two weeks underground. Today, none of Germany’s 579 shelters are functional, and experts warn the country is unprepared for crises. In Krefeld, citizens learn practical steps from emergency tools to 10‑day supplies to cope with power outages and extreme weather.