Get Updated: What to Do When Siren is Sounded

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

According to Israel’s Home Front Command directions: When the siren is sounded or an explosion is heard, enter the protected space within the amount of time at your disposal, according to the following guidelines:

If you are inside a building, go into the MAMAD (Apartment Protected Space), MAMAK (Floor Protected Space), bomb shelter or a protected internal space immediately and close the steel windows and doors.

Residents of the upper floor in a building of more than three floors with no MAMAD, MAMAK or inner bomb shelter will go down two floors.

Residents of the upper floor in a building of three floors with no MAMAD, MAMAK or inner bomb shelter will go down one floor.

Do not stay at the entrances of buildings as there is a risk of shard and shock wave as result of missiles falling near buildings.

After 10 minutes have passed, you can leave the protected space if no other instruction has been given.

It is important to keep your distance from unidentified objects or a rocket lying on the ground. In this event, get curious bystanders to move far away and notify the police.  

Keep listening to media directions.

If you are in a caravan

In case that the alert time is not enough to get to the “most secure space”, lie down at the center of the caravan or classroom and cover your head with your hands, staying away from windows and doors.

If you are outside

in a built-up area, go into the nearest building or sheltered spot.

If you are out in the open country, lie down and protect your head with your hands.

If you are in a car

Stop by the side of the road, get out of the car and go into the nearest building or sheltered spot.

If you cannot reach a building or sheltered spot in the allotted time, get out the car, lie down on the ground and protect your head with your hands.

If none of the options is possible – stop the car and stay inside for 10 minutes.

If you are using public transportation

When a siren is heard during a drive in a bus, the driver must stop the bus, open the doors, and the passengers must bend down under the windows line and protect their head.

When on a train, the driver must lower the train speed to 30 kmh within 10 minutes. Passengers must bend down under the windows line.