Switzerland is the only country in the world that has a law that specifies that each person is entitled to a place of shelter underground, 10 square feet to be exact. The law, which was enacted in 1962, was prompted by the fears raised by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the uncertainty of the Cold War years. Since 1962, nearly $13.2 billion has been spent on building nuclear shelters in Switzerland. Most of them are privately-owned structures found in the basements of apartment buildings or single-family homes. The municipal authorities are in charge of ensuring the construction and maintenance of the shelters. In the absence of threat, the shelters are often used for storage, as wine cellars, and even as living rooms. As for the public shelters — which can accommodate between 300 and 5,000 people, authorities are still considering alternative uses.
