The Shelter

Mission and vision

The Shelter is a global non-profit initiative headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its primary product, the Shelter mobile app, provides free access to real-time earthquake monitoring, verified institutional seismic data, community-reported shaking signals, historical risk insights, and practical safety guidance

Its purpose is to support informed and confident action during seismic events, when seconds matter most

The initiative began in 2024 following a personal experience. One of the founders was visiting Almaty, Kazakhstan, when a significant earthquake struck the city. Together with his family and friends, he spent a few hours in an emergency assistance center alongside hundreds of residents.

During that time, beyond the immediate disruption, a deeper issue became evident: people struggled to understand what was happening and what to expect next. Many were unsure where to find trustworthy updates, whether aftershocks were likely, and how best to respond in the hours that followed.

The Shelter grew out of this experience, driven by the conviction that accessible, well-structured information can meaningfully influence how individuals and communities respond in moments of crisis. The Shelter app was developed as its first operational tool.