FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO
WHEN THE SIREN IS SOUNDED
1. What is the correct order of preference for selecting a protected space?
The selection of the protected space depends upon the ability to reach it safely according to the time available to you.
IN A BUILDING:
A. Protected apartment area/Protected story area/Shelter
After entering the protected area the window and the door should be closed.
Shared shelter in a building – if the shelter is internal, is in the building itself, and on the condition that one can reach it via an internal staircase.
Public shelter – if it can be reached within the time required from the moment the siren is sounded.
B. In a building without a protected apartment area, story area, or shelter one must select an inner protected room where there is a minimum of external walls, windows, and openings.
1.Close the room's door and windows.
2.Sit on the floor (below the level of the room's windows) and not opposite the room's openings.
C. Apartment residents on the uppermost story of a building without a protected apartment space, story space, or shelter are required to enter the building's staircase according to the following instructions:
The residents on the uppermost story living in a building of more than 3 stories without a protected apartment space, story space or internal shelter must go two floors down and stay in the staircase .
The residents on the uppermost story living in a building of only 3 stories without a protected apartment space, story space or internal shelter must go one story down and stay in the staircase .
The residents in a two story building – if the staircase does not have external walls – have to go downstairs between the second and first stories and sit on the floor.
If the staircase has external walls – select a protected inner room with a minimum of external walls, windows, and openings. Close the room's door and windows, and sit on the floor (below the level of the room's windows) and not opposite the room's openings.
OUTSIDE:
Enter the nearest building, according to the time available.
If there is no building nearby, or if one is in an open area, lie on the ground and protect one's head with one's hands.
IN A VEHICLE:
Stop on the side of the road, get out of the vehicle, and enter a nearby building or place of shelter. If one cannot reach a building or place of shelter within the available time – get out of the vehicle, lie on the ground and protect one's head with one's hands. If one cannot get out of the vehicle, stop on the side of the road and wait 10 minutes.
AFTER THE EVENT:
One can leave the protected space 10 minutes after hearing the siren or the sound of an explosion.
Stay away from suspicious objects. If one identifies a rocket on the ground, notify security authorities.
2. What are the defense instructions in the communities around the Gaza Strip and in the South?
Upon hearing the siren or the sound of an explosion, enter a protected space according to the time available to you.
3. Why are public shelters not opened in the center of the country?
The instructions of the Home Front Command are to select the best possible protected space, as described above. According to the assessment of the Home Front Command, an instruction to open public shelters was given only in communities up to 40 km. away from the Gaza Strip, and those shelters can be a recommended solution for those who are outside of a building when a siren is sounded or an explosion is heard. At this stage, there is no instruction to open shelters beyond the 40 km. radius from the Gaza Strip. There is an ongoing assessment of the situation and according to necessity other instructions will be given.
4. I heard an explosion but I did not hear a siren, or the siren that I heard was weak. Is the siren not working?
The siren technology enables sounding a siren focused on specific geographical sub-areas.
If an explosion or a weak siren is heard, one must act according to the defense instructions. In other words, enter a protected space that you have selected.
5. What are the radio frequencies where silence is maintained until a siren is given?
City FM frequency Hours
Ashdod 101.5 Throughout Shabbat Ashkelon 101.5 Throughout Shabbat
Beersheba 95.8/96/97 Throughout Shabbat
Gedera to Netanya 102 24:00-06:00
"Lev Hamedina" Radio 93.3 24:00-06:00
Jerusalem 95.7 Throughout Shabbat
Channel for Shabbat Observers:
(in the South and Center of the country)
"Kol Hai" Radio 92.8 Throughout Shabbat
"Kol Beramah" Radio 92.1/104.3/105.7 Throughout Shabbat
531 AM frequency Throughout Shabbat
6. How will I know what is the time for reaching a protected space from when a siren is sounded for the area in which I live?
On the Home Front Command website one can see the map, divided by areas, for entering a protected space and one can type in one's place of residence to receive the time from a siren is sounded.
For additional information one can contact:
The Home Front Command website: www.oref.org.il or by telephone to the Home Front Command information center tel.1207.
NOTE: EVERY DAY AT 22:00 ON TELEVISION CHANNEL 33 INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH, ARABIC, RUSSIAN, AND AMHARIC.