IKEA stores could become emergency shelters as Denmark prepares for crises
An IKEA store could become somewhere to seek safety when disaster strikes. In Denmark, the furniture retailer’s stores could provide […]
Denmark is preparing for potential crises by repurposing IKEA stores as emergency shelters. These stores could provide beds, meals, and even temporary hospital spaces during floods, blackouts, or attacks on vital infrastructure. Spain has already demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, with an IKEA store in Valencia sheltering over 600 people during devastating floods in October 2024.
IKEA Denmark's security chief, Torben Mortensen, stated that the country's largest store could serve as an emergency shelter or hospital if needed, leveraging the store's existing strengths such as its restaurant, generators, and flat packs. This initiative is part of a larger effort by private companies to support society during emergencies.
Over 200 companies in Denmark, employing more than 300,000 people, are part of the Corporate Coalition for Crisis Preparedness, a voluntary network that outlines what companies could offer in an emergency. IKEA is also working to open stores capable of operating for up to 48 hours without electricity or internet. While Denmark is taking the lead, other European governments are increasingly collaborating with businesses to enhance crisis preparedness.
Estonia requires 300 companies to keep critical services running during emergencies, while Poland requires certain firms to allow the armed forces to use their resources in crises. In Spain, IKEA's stores could potentially play a significant role in emergency situations, as demonstrated by the sheltering of flood victims in Alfafar following the DANA floods in October 2024.
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