The Danish government and local municipalities have agreed to conduct a joint review of the nation’s public shelters and their current state. This agreement, outlined in a financial document presented on Tuesday, aims to assess the capacity and condition of existing shelters across Denmark.

The initiative underscores the importance of maintaining a strong focus on civil protection, particularly regarding shelters, given the current global threat landscape. The agreement highlights the necessity of ensuring these facilities are adequate and functional for the population.

While the financial agreement emphasizes the review of shelters, the specific amount of funding allocated for the assessment remains undisclosed. It’s also unclear whether funds have been earmarked for potential renovations of shelters found to be in disrepair.

Municipalities are typically responsible for the upkeep and operation of public shelters. However, many shelters are located within privately owned buildings. Despite efforts to obtain an interview with Minister for Emergency Management Torsten Schack Pedersen, no comments were provided.

The political agreement on emergency preparedness aims to brief relevant parties about specific measures in the area, including the planned shelter review. According to available data, Denmark has the capacity to shelter 3.6 million people in existing facilities. However, this figure does not reflect the actual condition or usability of these shelters.

Recently, municipalities received a directive from the Agency for Community Safety to enhance emergency preparedness. This directive followed a report indicating that Denmark’s risk and threat assessment is at its highest level since World War II. The municipalities were advised to ensure access to critical resources such as electricity, water, and heating in case of emergencies.

Several mayors have criticized the Minister for Emergency Management, citing a lack of clear guidelines for municipal actions during potential crises. To address this, the financial agreement commits the government and municipalities to collaborate closely to establish an effective framework for emergency preparedness.

Furthermore, an analysis of the interaction between municipal and state emergency preparedness, initiated as part of an earlier agreement, will be discussed in early 2026. The goal is to strengthen cooperation between the state, municipalities, and other key players in the field of emergency preparedness.