Home Front Command GUIDE TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BEING PROTECTED MEANS BEING PREPARED TABLE OF CONTENTS Emergency Preparedness – An Introduction ……………………..............….....…Page 4 Map of Regions by Warning Time…..…………………………….............….....….Page 6 How Should You Choose a Secure Space?..........................................................Page 8 Home Front Command Preparing the Secure Space – Recommended Equipment…..................…...…..Page 9 Protecting Yourself During a Conventional Missile Attack………...................…Page 10 Protecting Yourself During a Chemical (Non-Conventional) Missile Attack…....Page 11 Protecting Yourself During an Earthquake……………………………...…………Page 12 Preparing an Emergency Plan for Your Family………………………...………….Page 15 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CALL THE Emergency Preparedness for People with Special Needs…………………....…Page 17 HOME FRONT COMMAND’S NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER 1207 Emergency Preparedness for the Elderly…………………………………......…..Page 20 OR VISIT THE HOME FRONT COMMAND’S WEBSITE: Protective Kits…………………………………………………………………...…..Page 21 www.oref.org.il Essential Phone Numbers……………………………………………….……....…Page 23 Written by: Home Front Command – Population Department | Distributed by: Israel Postal Company | Illustrations and Graphic Design: Studio Hauser EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – AN INTRODUCTION Do the following simple steps, starting today: • Find out how much time you have to enter the secure space when the alert is sounded in your region. Choose the secure space according to the amount of time you have at your Protective kits are being redistributed to you now. Although these protective kits • disposal. are an important element in improving your preparedness to cope with emergency Prepare the secure space. situations, you should remember that optimal emergency preparedness also requires • Acquaint yourself with the instructions for protecting yourself in the various types of advance preparation in other areas. This GUIDE TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS • emergency situations: provides information and instructions on how to protect yourself and your family in Conventional rocket or missile attack. various types of emergency situation. Past experience in the State of Israel, and in • Chemical warhead (non-conventional) rocket or missile attack. the world in general, has shown that dangerous and emergency situations are likely • Earthquake. to occur without warning, but that those who were prepared in advance, knew how • Prepare your house for an earthquake. to cope and thus were able to act appropriately, saving themselves and their family • Prepare a family emergency plan. members. • • Prepare to take care of the elderly and people with special needs. • Follow the instructions for maintaining the protective kits. BEING PREPARED WE ALL KNOW THE CHALLENGES WE IN ADVANCE SAVES LIVES! FACE AND WE ARE CAPABLE OF COPING This guide contains information and instructions regarding the WITH THEM! following emergency situations: The Home Front Command, in cooperation with the emergency and rescue • Rocket and missile attacks carrying conventional warheads organizations, government offices, local authorities, and hundreds of volunteer (missiles carrying explosives only). organizations that are active in the home front are ready to help you in times • Rocket and missile attacks carrying chemical warheads (non-conventional missiles). of emergency. But advanced readiness by you and your family members; your • Earthquakes. appropriate behavior in the emergency situation; and your cooperation, assistance, and mutual involvement are the key factors that enable us to remain steadfast over time. You can obtain additional information at any time from the Home Front Command’s Information Center, by phone at 1207, and via our website at www.oref.org.il. Important! Choosing and preparing a secure space and acting appropriately in With you at all times, each of these emergency situations can help you to cope with these The Home Front Command threats and significantly reduce their impact 4 5 MAP OF REGIONS BY Kiryat Shemona Ma’alot Horfish WARNING TIME Nahariya Karmiel Golan Heights Acre Shfaram Safed Haifa The Home Front Command possesses modern Tiberias warning systems that issue different warning times Nazareth Bet Shean during an emergency to all areas of the State of Yokneam Israel (as detailed in the map). “Warning time” is Zichron Yaakov Hadera Northern Samaria the amount of time you have to enter a secure Netanya Central Samaria space from the moment the missile is fired until it Herzliya lands. The alarm will be activated via a system of Tel Aviv Southern Samaria sirens in areas that are at risk of being affected by Rishon LeZion the missiles or rockets. The warning will also be Jerusalem transmitted via radio and television. In addition to Ashdod the warning, the Home Front Command will give Ashkelon instructions through the media. Sderot ALLOTTED TIME Beersheba TO REACH SECURE SPACE Dimona Enter the secure area immediately 30 seconds 60 seconds 2 minutes 3 minutes WESTERN NEGEV COMMUNITIES 15 seconds 30 seconds 45 seconds The map opposite shows the warning times issued to residents of various regions within Israel. A more detailed map of communities in each region can be obtained by calling the Home Front Eilat 60 seconds Command Information Center on 1207, and by accessing the website, www.oref.org.il. 6 7 HOW SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A PREPARING THE SECURE SPACE – SECURE SPACE? RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT AFTER CHOOSING THE SECURE SPACE BASED ON THE Choose your secure space based on the amount of time you have to get there from AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE TO GET THERE, STORE the time the alarm is sounded, in the following order of priority (from most preferred THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT THERE: to least preferred option): • A reinforced secure room in a house/apartment (mamad) or reinforced secure Television, radio and batteries, Copies of important documents, 1 telephone, and a computer that is 9 medical documents, prescriptions room on the same floor in an apartment building (mamak) are the preferred connected to the internet so that you of medications that are used on a options. can continue to receive updates. regular basis, identifying documents, Bomb shelter personal documents, and financial • documents. (Keep a backup copy Bomb shelter in a multi-dwelling building - A shelter inside a building that 4 liters of water per person per day. • A 3-day supply is recommended. of these documents in an additional can be reached through an interior stairwell without concern for the warning 2 location outside the home.) time limit, since the surrounding stairwell walls provide protection. Food in closed packages, such as Public bomb shelter - A shelter that can be reached within the warning time A personal bag of supplies in case • 3 canned goods or snacks. evacuation is necessary, containing all limit, according to the map of regions by warning time. 10 vital supplies in the event that you are If you do not have a reinforced secure space in your home, on your floor, or Emergency lighting or flashlight and evacuated from your house for several batteries. quick access to a bomb shelter: 4 days (for example: medications, cash, a tent, matches, candles, a If you are on the top floor of a building that does not have an internal bomb • A first-aid kit. multipurpose knife, special equipment shelter, go down one flight of stairs and remain in the stairwell. 5 for babies, equipment for people with • If you are not on the top floor, select an internal secure space in which there special needs, etc.). are few external walls, windows, or openings/doorways. A fire extinguisher. 6 Sealing equipment: Nylon Do not choose a kitchen, bathroom or shower because of the risk that porcelain, 11 polyethylene sheeting, at least List of emergency phone numbers for 100-micron-thick; and an adequate ceramic, mirrors, and glass will shatter as a result of shockwaves from the blast. 7 organizations, family members, and supply of wide, clear sticky tape at neighbors. least 30-micron-thick and 50 mm wide to seal the room’s windows, doors, Things to help the time pass more and other openings. 8 pleasantly and make your stay in the secure space easier, such as games, newspapers, and books. RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH: Residents of communities that directly border Gaza and have a 15 or 30 second warning time should choose a secure space in the part of the house that is furthest from the source of the attack (the Gaza Strip You should carry out ongoing maintenance operations on the secure space in your home and on the bomb shelter according to the instructions that are publicized on the Home Front Command’s website : www.oref.org.il. 8 9 PROTECTING YOURSELF DURING A PROTECTING YOURSELF DURING A CHEMICAL CONVENTIONAL MISSILE ATTACK (NON-CONVENTIONAL) MISSILE ATTACK WHEN YOU HEAR THE ALARM OR AN EXPLOSION, ENTER IN THE EVENT OF A NON-CONVENTIONAL THE SECURE SPACE WITHIN YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. THREAT, THE HOME FRONT COMMAND WILL Pay attention to these instructions to protect yourself when you hear the alarm: UPDATE THE PUBLIC WITH APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEAL THE If you are in a building – Enter the secure space you have selected in advance, within ROOM AND USE THE PROTECTIVE KITS. the time allotted for the region, and close all doors and windows. WHEN THE ALARM OR EXPLOSION If you are outside – Enter a nearby building within the time allotted for the region. IS HEARD, ACT ACCORDING TO THE If you are not near a building, lie down on the ground and protect your head with FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS: your hands. If you are in a car/vehicle – Stop on the side of the road. Leave the car and enter a nearby building or shelter. If it is impossible to reach a building or shelter within the allotted time for the region, leave the vehicle, lie on the ground, and protect your head If you are in a building: with your hands. If you cannot leave the vehicle, stop on the side of the road and wait Go immediately to the sealed room, finish sealing the room, and put on the for 10 minutes.