Pikud HaOref Safety Protocols

Step-by-step safety instructions for every type of Home Front Command alert in Israel.

Category 1: Missiles and Rockets (ירי רקטות וטילים)

The most common alert type. Triggered by incoming rocket or missile fire.

Immediate actions (within your time-to-shelter window):

1. Enter the nearest protected space (mamad, mamak, miklat, or stairwell)
2. Close the blast door and window shutter completely
3. Sit on the floor against an inner wall, below window height
4. Cover your head with your hands
5. If you have children, hold them close and cover their heads

If caught outdoors:

• Lie face down on the ground
• Cover your head with both hands
• Move away from buildings (falling debris) and vehicles (fuel/explosion risk)
• If near a concrete bus stop shelter, enter and crouch low

If in a vehicle:

• Pull over to the side of the road safely
• Exit the vehicle and move at least 10 meters away
• Lie face down, cover your head
• If you cannot safely exit (highway, tunnel), bend below the window line

Stay in shelter:

• Remain for 10 minutes after the last sound of explosion or impact
• Wait for the official "all clear" announcement (category 13 alert or radio broadcast)
• Do not exit based on silence alone. Debris and secondary explosions can occur

Category 2: Hostile Aircraft Intrusion (חדירת כלי טיס עוין)

Triggered by unauthorized aircraft (drones, UAVs, manned aircraft) entering Israeli airspace.

Immediate actions:

1. Enter the nearest protected space immediately
2. Close all doors and windows
3. Stay away from windows and exterior walls
4. Remain in the protected space until officially cleared

Key difference from missiles: Aircraft intrusions may involve slower-moving threats (drones) that can carry explosives or surveillance. The threat may persist longer than a missile attack.

Stay in shelter: Until official all-clear. This can take longer than missile alerts as air defense operations may be ongoing.

Category 3: Earthquake (רעידת אדמה)

Israel sits on the Dead Sea Transform fault. Earthquakes are a real risk.

During the earthquake (Drop, Cover, Hold On):

1. DROP to your hands and knees
2. COVER under a sturdy desk or table, protect your head and neck
3. HOLD ON to the table/desk until the shaking stops

If no table available:

• Move to an interior wall, away from windows, mirrors, and heavy furniture
• Crouch and protect your head with your arms

If outdoors:

• Move to an open area away from buildings, power lines, and trees
• Drop to the ground and cover your head

If in a vehicle:

• Pull over away from buildings, bridges, and overpasses
• Stay inside the vehicle with seatbelt fastened until shaking stops

IMPORTANT: Do NOT enter a mamad/shelter during an earthquake. The protocol is opposite to missile alerts. During an earthquake, heavy blast doors and reinforced rooms can trap you if the structure shifts. Use the Drop-Cover-Hold method instead.

After the earthquake:

• Expect aftershocks. They can occur minutes to days later
• Check for gas leaks (smell, hissing sounds). If detected, open windows, leave building, call 102 (fire department)
• Check for structural damage. If walls are cracked or the building shifted, evacuate
• Do not use elevators
• Listen to official channels (radio, Home Front Command app) for tsunami warnings

Category 4: Tsunami (צונאמי)

Can follow an earthquake. Affects Mediterranean and Red Sea coastal areas.

Warning signs (even without an official alert):

• Strong earthquake felt near the coast
• Unusual sea withdrawal (water receding rapidly)
• Loud roaring sound from the ocean

Immediate actions:

1. Move inland and to higher ground immediately
2. Go at least 2 km from the coast OR to an elevation of 30+ meters
3. If you cannot move inland, go to the 3rd floor or higher of a reinforced building
4. Stay away from beaches, harbors, and river mouths

Stay safe: Remain at elevation until official all-clear. Tsunamis come in waves, the first wave is often not the largest.

Category 5: Radiological Event (אירוע רדיולוגי)

Nuclear or radiological incident (dirty bomb, nuclear facility accident).

Immediate actions:

1. Enter the nearest building immediately
2. Close all windows, doors, and ventilation systems (AC, fans)
3. If your mamad has an NBC filtration system, activate it
4. Seal gaps around doors and windows with wet towels or tape
5. Remove outer clothing if you were outdoors during the event

Decontamination (if exposed):

• Remove and bag outer clothing
• Shower thoroughly with soap and water (do NOT scrub skin hard)
• Do not eat food that was outdoors during the event
• Do not drink tap water until cleared by authorities

Stay inside: Follow official instructions. Evacuation may be ordered for specific zones.

Category 6: Hazardous Materials (חומרים מסוכנים)

Chemical spill, industrial accident, or deliberate chemical attack.

Immediate actions:

1. Enter a building and go to the highest floor possible (many chemicals are heavier than air and settle low)
2. Close all windows, doors, and ventilation systems
3. Seal gaps with wet towels
4. If your mamad has NBC filtration, activate it
5. If outdoors and exposed: move uphill and upwind from the source

If you feel symptoms (dizziness, difficulty breathing, burning eyes):

• Move to fresh air immediately
• Remove contaminated clothing
• Rinse eyes with clean water for 15 minutes
• Call Magen David Adom: 101

Stay inside: Until hazmat teams clear the area. Follow official decontamination instructions if issued.

Category 7: Terrorist Infiltration (חדירת מחבלים)

Armed attackers entering a community or area.

Immediate actions:

1. Enter the nearest building
2. Lock all doors and windows
3. Move to an interior room away from entrances and windows
4. Turn off lights
5. Silence phones (vibrate mode, turn off sounds)
6. Stay quiet and out of sight
7. Do NOT open the door for anyone except identified security forces

If outdoors:

• Run away from the threat if you can do so safely
• If you cannot run, find cover (solid wall, concrete barrier)
• As a last resort, hide (under vehicles, in bushes, behind solid objects)

Call for help:

• Police: 100
• If you see the attackers and can safely call: provide location, number of attackers, weapons observed, direction of movement

Stay locked down: Until security forces announce the area is clear. Infiltration events can last hours.

This is the official all-clear signal from the Home Front Command. When you receive a category 13 alert for your area:

• You may leave the protected space
• Resume normal activity
• Check your surroundings for damage before moving freely

If you do NOT receive a category 13:

• Stay in the shelter for at least 10 minutes after the last impact/explosion
• Monitor the Home Front Command app or radio for updates
• Call 104 (English) or 1207 (Hebrew) if unsure

A heads-up that alerts are expected in your area in the coming minutes. This gives you extra preparation time.

Actions:

1. Move toward your shelter now (don't wait for the actual siren)
2. Ensure all household members are accounted for
3. Bring supplies (phone, water, medications)
4. Wait for the actual alert or for the situation to pass (typically within 20 minutes)

Children

• Practice shelter routines regularly so they become automatic
• Explain the siren in age-appropriate terms: "the siren means we go to our safe room"
• Keep comfort items in the shelter (stuffed animal, blanket)
• For very young children: carry them to the shelter. Do not send them alone
• After the alert: check for emotional distress. Children may need reassurance

Elderly

• If mobility is limited and you cannot reach the shelter in time, use the nearest interior room
• Keep medications, glasses, hearing aids, and a phone within reach at all times
• Inform neighbors and building committee of your situation
• Register with Home Front Command (call 104) for priority assistance

People with Disabilities

• Wheelchair users: if the shelter is not accessible, use the safest accessible interior space
• Hearing-impaired: ensure the Home Front Command app is installed with vibration/visual alerts enabled
• Visually impaired: practice the route to shelter so it becomes muscle memory. Keep the path clear of obstacles
• Service animals: permitted in all shelters

Pregnant Women

• Prioritize reaching the shelter. The mamad is safe for pregnant women
• Bring a cushion or pillow for comfort during extended stays
• Keep prenatal medications in the shelter supply kit
• If experiencing contractions during an alert, call Magen David Adom (101) from the shelter

1. Earthquake vs missile protocol confusion: The earthquake protocol (Drop-Cover-Hold) is the OPPOSITE of the missile protocol (run to mamad). An AI agent must correctly identify the alert type before giving instructions. Telling someone to enter a mamad during an earthquake is dangerous because structural shifts can trap them behind the blast door.

2. "10 minutes" is a minimum, not a guarantee: The 10-minute shelter time after the last impact is a minimum guideline. During prolonged barrages, the actual shelter time can be hours. Agents should never say "you can leave after 10 minutes" without checking for a category 13 all-clear.

3. Chemical alerts go UP, not down: For hazardous materials (category 6), the safe direction is UP (higher floors). Many chemicals are heavier than air. This is opposite to the instinct to seek underground shelters. An agent recommending a miklat (underground shelter) during a chemical event could put users in greater danger.

4. Terrorist infiltration is not a shelter event: Category 7 (terrorist infiltration) requires lockdown, not shelter entry. The protocol is lock-hide-silence, not run-to-mamad. Opening a mamad door during an infiltration event could expose residents.

5. Pre-alert does not mean sirens are imminent: Category 14 is a heads-up, not a siren. Users should prepare but should not panic. If no actual alert follows within ~20 minutes, the pre-alert can be considered expired.

See the references/ directory for:

• references/alert-categories-quick-reference.md -- one-page summary of all alert types
• references/special-populations-guide.md -- detailed guidance for vulnerable populations

Situation	Action
Siren sounds but no app alert	Treat as real. Enter shelter immediately. The app may have a slight delay
App alert but no siren	Still take shelter. Sirens may not be audible indoors or in noisy areas
Don't know which alert type	Enter shelter and check the Home Front Command app for details. Default to missile protocol
Power is out	Use battery radio (Galei Zahal 102.3 FM) for updates. The siren system is independent of power
No internet connection	The siren system works without internet. If you have a radio, use it. Otherwise stay in shelter 10 min after last impact
Multiple alert types simultaneously	Follow the most restrictive protocol. Missile + chemical = shelter + seal room
Alert during Shabbat (no phone)	Sirens are audible. Follow the protocol for your location. Pikuach nefesh (saving life) overrides Shabbat observance