Kaunas decided to install shelters in apartment buildings. Although it is not mandatory and residents will be able to decide for themselves whether they want to have a shelter in their house, the installation of which would be financed by the municipality or not. However, strive for all apartment buildings in Kaunas to have shelters.
One of the apartment buildings in Kaunas is more than 60 years old and has 68 apartments. Each of them has a storage room in their basement, where they keep their stash, just like all the residents of the country.
“There is a heating unit room. I would like to do it in such premises, but it is small, it would fit a maximum of fifteen people, when there are more than 100 people in the house. There are still corridors for common use”, said the chairman of the associations, Ramunė Liuda Razgūniėnė.
The Kaunas Council approved the project, according to which shelters would be installed in the basements of such apartment buildings.
60 percent should agree to install shelters. residents of the apartment building. So, it seems that collecting signatures will not be easy, especially if it is decided to install them instead of storerooms.
“I’m already old, I don’t need anything,” said the woman.
According to the chairman, the storerooms should be taken from people, otherwise there is no free space in the basement.
“Storage rooms – maximum size of 2.5 square meters. I don’t know in which place, except to tear down the walls and make a common room”, said RL Razgūnienė.
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Having shelters is not mandatory in the country, it is a matter for each municipality. Kaunas is the first to decide that shelters should appear everywhere. The municipality explained what works would be financed by 100 percent.
“Installation of additional emergency exits, installation of emergency lighting, covering of windows and other openings, installation of ventilation and installation of the possibility of connecting generators to the heating system,” explained the deputy director of administration, Paulius Keras.
It is estimated that from next year, at least one million euros will be needed in the budget.
The president of the community said that the funding should be allocated to all shelter installation works and not to some, as it would be too much of a burden for the residents.
“Everything must be financed 100 percent. – expertise, technical project. There can be no selective selection of houses. Financing must appear as soon as possible”, said RL Razgūniėnė.
Although the municipality says shelters must be everywhere, some apartment buildings are promised a higher priority.
“Priority can be applied to those residents who, after renovating the buildings, take care of themselves economically, will be able to carry out work and maintain shelters. A priority, if a choice had to be made regarding funding priorities”, said P. Keras.
The city’s opposition said civilian safety is a priority, but opposes the division of apartment buildings into new and old.
“It’s unfair against people who can’t renovate their homes.” It must be applied to everyone, it is important that the projects do not get stuck, that the fund be formed faster”, said the leader of the opposition, Paulius Lukševičius.
There are 287 shelters in Kaunas, and they can only accommodate a third of Kaunas residents. According to the city’s calculations, out of slightly more than 300 thousand population, approximately 74 percent lives in apartment buildings.
