Germany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency preparedness guide.
If the prospect of a broader conflict in Europe seems remote for many, some countries at least are taking it seriously – and, in the term used by Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, taking steps to get populations kriegsfähig: war-capable.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically raised security tensions across the Baltic region, prompting Finland and Sweden to abandon decades of nonalignment and join Nato. Military capability, however, is not all: citizens have to be braced too.
Why would you develop an app for bunkers that do not exist? Peak German
Because it’s not about bunkers in the traditional sense, but shelters. Subway stations, parking garages, etc. can be used as shelters, but are not bunkers.
Nobody prepares for a thermonuclear war, but having bombs rain on our cities is unfortunately not impossible.
Had the same thoughts on this. Other countries in Europe take this responsibility a bit more serious, for instance Finland.
Also why an App? I’m sure checking my phone is very far down in my priorities list in such a case. I prefer Swedens approach, better to have info material printed out and ready with a bunch of other important documents.
Because you can send an alert on the phone, get the coordinates and the person to the next shelter. There are early warning systems, so that is somewhat possible. Ukraine and Israel use such apps very successfully.
EDIT: Obviously it should not be the only option.
Because the German federal administration thinks they can simultaneously address the issue of missing digitalization with an app
Too true. In case of war, this is pretty much counter-intuitive.
Next they implement a paid version, where the more privileged people will get notified of the even better shelters.
If there’s one thing I want in my life it’s less Apps.
I’m more worried about the app being hacked and sending people en masse to the next target of bombs.
Im wondering why no one realizes they could just make a map.
A mApp?
When will it end!?