Chapter 5: Guidance Notes¶

5.1 Choosing a Go Bag¶

Tip

Your go bag is the single most important physical item in your readiness kit. Use a backpack, not a tote bag. See Appendix H for a full packing list.

You need both hands free. You may be carrying a child, holding a torch, opening doors, or navigating stairs in the dark.

What to look for:

Two shoulder straps with padding
Chest strap and/or waist strap
Water-resistant material
30–40 litre capacity
Multiple compartments — find things in the dark by feel
Durable zips
Dark or neutral colour

What to avoid:

Tote bags, drawstring bags, single-strap slings
Wheeled luggage — useless on stairs or rubble
Very large bags (60L+) — too heavy
Fashion bags with no structure

Once selected:

Affix reflective tape to straps
Assign each item a fixed pocket
Keep it by the front door

5.2 In Shelter — When To Leave¶

Warning

Wait for the all-clear. Do NOT leave your protected space until you receive an all-clear from HFC (via the app, official media, or the all-clear siren pattern).

If you have no connectivity (phone dead, no signal, no internet):

Stay in shelter. The default when you have no information is to remain in place
Do NOT assume the situation is over because it has been quiet
If you have a radio, tune to a national station
When in doubt, stay longer. Leaving too early is far more dangerous than staying too long

Many casualties occur because people leave shelter prematurely.

5.3 In Shelter — Behaviour¶

Children¶

Use a calm, steady voice. Children take their cues from adults
Explain simply: "We're in our safe room. We wait here until we're told it's safe"
Have a comfort item ready — one in the mamad, one in the go bag
Hold young children close — physical contact is reassuring
Do not lie — children hear sirens. Acknowledge and redirect to the plan

General¶

Sit against an inner wall, below window line
⚠️ Do NOT use elevators during or after an alert
⚠️ Do NOT go outside to photograph interceptions — falling debris causes injuries
Keep the mamad/shelter door closed until the all-clear
If you smell gas or see structural damage, move to alternative shelter and call 102
After the all-clear, send a brief safety confirmation to family
⚠️ Do not spread unverified information

5.4 Moving Safely to a Public Shelter¶

The journey to shelter is one of the most dangerous moments.

Before you move¶

Know where you're going
Grab go bag only if on the route
Secure children first, then move

On the stairs¶

Hold the handrail
Do NOT run — fast, controlled walk
Stay to one side

Outside¶

Watch the ground — glass, uneven pavement
Do NOT run across roads without looking
Wear closed-toe shoes
If shelter unreachable, enter nearest building or lie flat

At the shelter door¶

Let children, elderly, mobility-limited enter first
Move away from entrance once inside

Warning

Common injuries: Falls on stairs (wet, dark, socks) · Tripping on uneven ground · Cuts from bare feet on debris · Collisions in narrow hallways · Panic-related sprains

5.5 Waking Up to a Night Alarm¶

This is one of the hardest scenarios. Everything in §4.4 exists to make this moment survivable on autopilot.

The first 5 seconds¶

Siren or phone alert wakes you. Do not process. Just move
Feet on floor → into shoes. Same spot every night
Grab glasses and phone
Caffeine pill (optional) — you may wish to take one with a sip of water to speed alertness. Not for everyone — skip if caffeine-sensitive or medically contraindicated

The next 10–20 seconds¶

Clothes: Pull on whatever is laid out. Speed over appearance
Grab torch from nightstand if power is out
Move to protected space or front door

For parents¶

One parent → child/children. Other → go bag (pre-assigned roles)
Carry baby in babywear that's by the door. Do not stop to dress them

Tip

Do not think. Follow the procedure. Every decision at 3am is one you should have made before bed.

Do not check your phone. The siren means go. Read details in the shelter.

It gets easier. After 2–3 night alarms, the routine becomes automatic.

5.6 Fighting Alert Fatigue¶

Wellness

After days or weeks of alerts, the temptation to stop reacting is enormous. This is alert fatigue — a normal neurological process, not a character flaw. But it kills people.

Why it happens:

Repeated exposure reduces your response — normal neurology
Most alerts end without personal impact, reinforcing false safety beliefs
Fatigue, stress, and disrupted sleep degrade motivation
Social pressure: if neighbours aren't sheltering, you feel permission to stop

How to fight it:

Reframe every alert as the first one. The one you skip could be the one that matters
Use the checklist mechanically. They work when your judgment doesn't
Keep your shoes on. The single biggest predictor of whether someone will shelter
Lower the effort, not the standard. Sleep in clothes by the door — that's adapting
Talk about it. "I'm feeling alert fatigue. Let's keep going to shelter."
Remember: Civilian injuries spike in weeks 2–3, when alert fatigue peaks

5.7 Wellness During Protracted Conflict¶

Wellness

Wars lasting weeks create cumulative strain different from acute stress. Readiness includes taking care of yourself.

Physical¶

Sleep when you can. Any sleep is better than none
Eat regular meals. Stress suppresses appetite — eat anyway
Drink water. Dehydration amplifies fatigue
Shower when you can. Hygiene is a morale multiplier
Move your body. Even 10 minutes of stretching
Manage medication. Maintain a 72-hour buffer

Psychological¶

Limit news to every 1–3 hours — don't doom-scroll
Maintain routines. Even small ones stabilise
Stay connected. Isolation amplifies stress
Acknowledge the difficulty. "This is hard" is not weakness
Watch for warning signs — insomnia, inability to eat, withdrawal, rage, numbness
Call ERAN (1201) or NATAL (1-800-363-363)

Children need extra reassurance. Maintain bedtime routines. Don't dismiss fears — validate and redirect: "Yes, it's scary. And we have a plan, and our safe room works, and we're together."

Give yourself permission to function imperfectly. Safety first, then wellbeing, then everything else.

5.8 During Lulls — Resupply & Maintenance¶

When there's a pause in alerts — hours or days — use the window wisely. These lulls don't last.

Warning

Stay alert even during quiet periods. Keep your phone on, HFC app running, and shoes accessible. Lulls can end without warning.

Resupply (with caution)¶

	TASK	NOTES
💧	Stock up on water	Top up to 72-hour supply per person (9L each)
🍽	Restock pantry	Canned goods, shelf-stable foods — see Appendix I
⛑	Fill prescriptions	If pharmacies are open — don't wait for the last pill
📱	Charge everything	All phones, power banks, laptops, torches, radios
🎒	Repack go bag	Replace anything used; check expiry dates
🚗	Fill car fuel	At least half a tank; queues may be long
	Cash withdrawal	ATMs may go offline; keep small bills on hand
	Laundry	Clean clothes ready for the next round

Home & Safety¶

Check mamad/shelter — anything displaced by shaking? Door still seals?
Secure loose items — objects may have shifted from impacts
Test smoke detector and fire extinguisher — infrastructure damage increases fire risk
Check gas lines — if you smell gas, shut off and call 102

Personal & Family¶

Contact family and friends — confirm everyone is safe; update plans
Fill prescriptions and medical supplies — pharmacies may have limited hours
Shave, shower, do laundry — morale and normalcy matter
Sleep — real sleep, not a nap. Set an alarm if you're anxious about missing an alert
Play with children — normality is the best antidote to anxiety
Walk outside briefly — sunlight and fresh air if the area is safe

Tip

Prioritise ruthlessly. Water and medications first. Then power. Then food. Then everything else. Don't try to do it all — the lull may be short.

5.9 Caring for Elderly Neighbours & Vulnerable People¶

Before the escalation¶

Know your neighbours — especially those living alone or with limitations
Exchange phone numbers
Establish a buddy system — check on each other after every alert
Know who holds a spare key

During alerts¶

Check on elderly/mobility-limited neighbours on your way (only if safe)
Help them to safest position: inner wall, away from windows
After the all-clear, knock on their door — 10 seconds

Ongoing support¶

Check food, water, medications
Help with technology — phone charged, HFC app configured
Offer to include them in supply runs
If distressed: 118 (Welfare Ministry) or *8840 (Senior Citizens)

5.10 Using Communal / Public Shelters¶

Warning

HFC maintains official shelter information. Check the HFC app or oref.org.il. This guidance supplements — does not replace — official instructions.

Finding shelters: HFC app, building committee (vaad bayit), or physically walk to your nearest 3.

Access: Many are locked — find the keyholder. Some have restricted hours. Report storage/access issues to municipality.

Etiquette:

Make space — move to the back
Priority: children, elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities
Keep noise down
Share resources with those who arrive without supplies
Pets: many shelters do not allow animals — check in advance
Bring something for children to do

5.11 OPSEC & Information Discipline¶

Warning

During wartime, what you share online can endanger lives — including your own.

Do NOT share:

Exact locations of impacts
Military or emergency activity
Photos/videos revealing locations
Casualty info before families notified

Do NOT believe:

Unverified reports on X, Telegram, WhatsApp
"Breaking" news from unknown accounts
Dramatic unconfirmed claims
Screenshots from unverified sources

Do: Use official sources (HFC app, IDF Spokesperson, Israel Police, established media). Check before sharing. Tell others to delete sensitive location info.

Even well-intentioned sharing can be lethal OPSEC. When in doubt, don't post.

5.12 Preliminary Guidelines (Advance Warning)¶

HFC provides 3–5 minute advance warning for attacks from distant sources (e.g. Yemen).

Notification via HFC app before the siren
Does NOT require shelter entry
It means: prepare. Shoes on. Phone located. Know where you're going

What to do:

At home: Ensure shoes, keys, phone, go bag in position
Driving: Look for a solid building to pull over near
On public transport: Follow crew instructions; bend below window line
Outside with children: Identify nearest shelter; gather children close

When the actual alert sounds: follow standard shelter procedure (Appendix D).

5.13 Terrorist Infiltration¶

Warning

Different protocol from rocket/missile response. Do NOT follow standard shelter procedure for rockets — stay hidden, not just sheltered.

If Indoors¶

Lock the house door
Leave lights on outside the house (helps security forces navigate)
Enter the Mamad (protected room), close the door properly, sit below the window line
If no Mamad — enter a hideaway (internal room with lockable door, no windows)
Do NOT exit the protected space until official authorities announce the event has ended

If Outdoors¶

Immediately enter the nearest protected place (building, shop, public structure)
Stay there until official authorities announce the event has ended

If In a Vehicle¶

If you can keep driving — get to a safe location nearby as fast as possible
If you cannot drive — stop on the side of the road, seek nearby shelter offering maximum protection
Stay in shelter until official authorities announce the event has ended

Critical Reminders¶

Critical

Traffic in the area is prohibited — entry banned until further notice
If a rocket/missile alert sounds during a terrorist infiltration — do NOT go to a protected space outside the house, including the stairwell. Stay where you are
Do NOT dismantle the Mamad door handle. Removing it damages the mechanism. To block entry from outside, barricade the handle with a heavy object
Do NOT share your location on social networks or media channels
Stay updated via Home Front Command messages on official platforms

Licensed weapon holders: Aim at front door. Fire only on positive ID.

5.14 Hostile Aerial Vehicle (UAV/Drone) Infiltration¶

Warning

UAV infiltration uses the same siren as rocket/missile attacks but has different behavioural guidelines. Shelter time is 10 minutes unless updated.

Means of Alert¶

The alert is received through:

Home Front Command App — personal alert based on location (location services must be active) plus up to 10 areas of interest. The caption "Infiltration of a Hostile Aerial Vehicle" appears with guidelines
National Emergency Portal (oref.org.il) — targeted alert on your computer if you have defined alert areas
Home Front Command Sirens — rising and falling alarm (same sound as rocket/missile attack)
Media — radio stations, TV channels, and news websites broadcast the alert with area name and guidelines

If Indoors¶

Go immediately to the most protected space: Mamad, Mamak, Mamam, shelter, inner stairwell, or inner room
Stay in the protected space for 10 minutes, unless another alert or additional guideline is received

If Outdoors¶

In a built-up area: enter the optimal protected space in a nearby building. Do not stay in the entrance hall
In an open area: lie on the ground and protect your head with your hands. If you cannot lie down — crouch as much as possible and protect your head
Wait until an explicit guideline allows you to leave

If In a Vehicle¶

Stop at the side of the road, exit the vehicle, and enter the optimal protected space in a nearby building
If no building is reachable — exit and move away from the vehicle beyond the shoulder or safety railing, lie down, and protect your head
Only if you cannot exit the vehicle — pull over, open the windows, and crouch below the window line
Wait until an explicit guideline allows you to leave

If On Public Transport¶

Inter-city / school buses: driver stops at roadside and opens doors; passengers crouch below the window line and protect their heads
Urban buses: driver stops and opens doors for passengers to reach optimal protected space; if not reachable, crouch below window line
Trains: driver slows to 30 km/h; passengers crouch below window line in carriages and protect their heads

Key Difference from Rockets

UAV alerts require a 10-minute shelter time and you must wait for an explicit "all clear" — do not self-release based on quiet.

Based on Home Front Command guidance as of 20 March 2026. Always verify with current HFC guidance at oref.org.il.