Questions of preparation have been raised as tensions around the world increase (Picture: Getty/Sarah Hooper)
As conflict continues to erupt across the world, many have questioned the preparedness of their own countries in case of a full-scale war.
But one country bordering Russia is more than prepared – Finland.
The nation has an astounding 50,500 bomb shelters in case of emergency or conflict – a stark contrast to those available and operational in the United Kingdom.
When the Soviet Union and the West began a tense fight for supremacy, it sent ripples of anxiety through the world.
The UK bolstered its army, amassed weapons and drew battle plans drawn out as the Cold War gripped the nation.
The threat from Russia was more pertinent in the Cold War, but Finland never forgot the 1944 bombings in Helsinki, orchestrated by the Soviet Union.
After the Second World War, many countries stopped constructing bomb shelters – but not Finland.
They added a requirement in their building code for every residence over a certain size to have an operational shelter in case of emergencies like war – so how do these shelters compare to the UK’s current capabilities in case of a conflict?
Finland has a sprawling array of underground shelters throughout the country (Picture: Sarah Hooper)
Finland’s Civil Defence Shelters
In Finland, there are 50,500 civil defence shelters, with the capability to shelter more than 4.8 million people – both Finnish nationals and those who may be visiting from abroad.
The Finnish Ministry of the Interior explains: ‘Civil defence shelters protect against the effects of explosions and splinters, collapse of buildings, blasts, radiation and substances hazardous to health.’
91% of the shelters are able to sustain an attack conducted with conventional weapons, while 83% are equipped to also provide shelter from gas emissions or nuclear emergencies.
During times of peace, the shelters are used for recreational activities, such as sports halls, metro stations, parking lots and even a children’s play area.
The only prerequisite for any businesses operating in the shelters is that they are able to clear the area for use in 72 hours.
And in case of emergency or war, the Finnish Civil Defence volunteers help coordinate the response to organise those sheltering in the bunkers.
During times of peace, the shelters are used to house businesses (Picture: Sarah Hooper)
If needed, thousands of beds can be set up, along with functional toilets (Picture: Sarah Hooper)
Three massive metal doors provide protection from any threat (Picture: Sarah Hooper)
‘Civil defence duties include warning the population, evacuation to shelters, firefighting and rescue operations, and medical care. The same authorities are responsible for civil defence and rescue services during both normal times and emergencies,’ the ministry explains.
Tomi Rask, a preparedness teacher with the Helsinki City Rescue Department, showed Metro.co.uk around one of the civil defence shelters. He said: ‘The first barrier against any weapon is that we are approximately 20 metres below ground already in straight bedrock.
‘There are four different sheltering halls and a maintenance corridor with this shelter, all of which would be divided into small sheltering rooms. People feel more secure in confined spaces, rather than large spaces. Then we need some different functions within the sheltering period, depending on the threat, depending on the situation.
‘There would be a children’s area, elderly people area, distribution of water, distribution of information. Leisure areas and an area for resting, and first aid.’
There are three massive metal doors at each entrance to the Finnish defence shelter – one to protect against pressure from blasts, the second to protect from toxic elements, and the third to protect from nuclear blasts.
The Finnish shelters are also strictly analogical and manual – no computers help to run the shelter, and all information is received by radio to prevent any miscommunication or panic.
Mr Rask said: ‘We are aiming to protect every citizen in the country. Most of the countries are aiming to protect the government, the decision makers, but in Finland we protect everyone.’
The UK’s sheltering capabilities then and now
During the second world war, tube stations provided shelter for thousands (Picture: Corbis Historical)
In the first and second world wars, the UK was bombed by German forces, killing an estimated 30,000 civilians and prompting many to construct their own shelters in more rural areas.
For Londoners who didn’t have a private shelter, they sought refuge in London Underground stations, with many sleeping in the train tunnels until the all clear was given.
Ten deep-level shelters in the London Underground were constructed, each able to hold 8,000 people: Belsize Park, Camden Town, Chancery Lane, Goodge Street, Stockwell, Clapham North, Clapham Common and Clapham South.
In the early 1940s, London was home to more than 8 million people – today, that number has grown by more than 1 million, who would need shelter in case of an attack.
So how many of these shelters are actually prepared to be used today? The tube stations which were previously used are an option for shelter, but are not equipped for long term sheltering and do not protect against a nuclear or chemical attack.
Those who lived on England’s coast often constructed their own shelters for protection (Picture: Popperfoto)
Attacks were so common, even nightclubs constructed their own shelters (Picture: Getty)
Many Brits continued building nuclear and bomb shelters throughout the Cold War, such as these shelters, built in the 1960s (Picture: Getty)
There are a few areas in the UK that have large concentrations of shelters – 46 are in London, with other large metropolitan areas like Manchester and Birmingham having a handful.
In Wales, there are about a dozen bunkers spread across the country, while Scotland has about 23 shelters dotted around Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The Isle of Man has one shelter, and in Northern Ireland, there are only four operational shelters – meaning the UK is drastically underprepared compared to a country like Finland, who is all too familiar with the threat of attack.
How can the UK prepare for a potential conflict?
Given the tumultuous situation in Israel-Gaza, Russia-Ukraine and that of China and Taiwan, many Brits are looking at how to better prepare in case of time of war.
During the Cold War, a ‘Protect and Survive’ booklet was released by the British Government and gave stern instructions on what to do if World War Three was to break out.
Paul Ingram, a senior research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk previously told Metro.co.uk: ‘Our modern life has been prioritised around convenience and efficiency.
‘For some reason, we seem to have been fairly bad at maintaining resilience. People laugh at the prepping community, and I think that’s because they find it uncomfortable to be faced with harsh realities.
‘Just consider, what would I do if the electricity goes down for two or three days – how would that affect me and what would I do to mitigate that? That’s better than burying your head in the sand and thinking “oh the authorities will have everything under control”.’
For now, the UK government has not issued guidance on what to do if a conflict were to reach the UK.
Finland began preparations in case there was ever a repeat of the bombings like in 1944 (Picture: Bettman Archive)
Currently on the government’s website, a section called ‘prepare yourself for emergencies’ focuses on disasters like weather and power outages.
Civilians are currently encouraged to keep an emergency grab bag, including the following:
First aid kit and medication
Copies of important family documents in a waterproof bag
Prescription medication
Cash and Credit Cards
Car Keys
Toiletries and sanitary supplies
Mobile phone and charger
Infant supplies
Spare clothes
A battery torch with spare batteries or a wind up torch
A battery radio with spare batteries or wind up radio
Bottled water and emergency food, enough for three days
Childcare supplies or other special care items
Extra set of house and car keys
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