FAQ

* The Home Front Command is one of the four commands of the IDF. The Home Front Command is divided into five regions (congruent with the regions of the Israel Police), and consists of an array of search and rescue personnel, both in their compulsory army service and in the reserves.

* The functions of the Home Front Command include:

- Being a professional organization in the fields of search and rescue, protection, and hazardous materials.

- Directing the public and emergency personnel in the field of civil defense (via various information channels).

- Helping to strengthen and maintain national resilience in emergencies (by helping find solutions to problems, calming the public).

- Handling search and rescue missions in Israel (and throughout the world). The search and rescue personnel of the Home Front Command are deployed even now in threatened areas at high alert to respond whenever necessary.

* The Home Front Command acts jointly with other emergency organizations – the Israel Police, the Red Magen David, firefighters, local authorities and government ministries – in order to save lives, minimize damage, and make sure that life returns to normal as fast as possible.

The Qassam is a surface-to-surface rocket.

The rocket is constructed of a hollow pipe containing explosives. It can cause damage to structures and to people who are not in secure spaces.

Up to a few kilograms.

No. Unlike a missile, it is not possible to insert unconventional means of warfare into the rocket’s warhead.

Currently, the effective range is between 1 and 12 km. A standard surface-to-surface rocket has an effective range of about 25 km.

The Qassam is an improvised weapon, and is therefore not accurate.

The Qassam rocket is an improvised weapon. In order to reach deep into settlements in the southern region of Israel, the enemy has to move northwards into the Gaza Strip, and launch the Qassams from there.

The destruction radius of a Qassam is up to 5 m.

A launcher can launch only one rocket at a time. However, several launchers can be readied and used to launch several rockets at the same time.

Hostile terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, particularly the Fatah, Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad.

There are two main differences between a rocket and a missile:

* Accuracy: A missile is more accurate than a rocket (because of the guidance system with which it is equipped), and therefore can be aimed at a specific target with a high probability that it will land where intended.

* Range: A missile has a greater range than a rocket.

A Qassam rocket might penetrate a concrete structure, but not cause it to collapse. Furthermore, a rocket might penetrate plaster walls and unstable buildings, and cause damage.

The Israel Police, together with the IDF and various emergency personnel (firefighters, the Red Magen David), are all responsible for responding.

* Note: The Hebrew acronym is given at the beginning of the first four definitions:

HADAB – Security Room: A reinforced room inside the residence built with a concrete shell (8”/20cm. thick) and having a door and a window capable of withstanding shock waves. (Security rooms are built only close to potential areas of conflict.)

MAMAD – Secure Residential Space: A room constructed of concrete inside the residence, and having a door and window constructed of two parts: the external one is of steel and is capable of withstanding shock waves, and the internal one is single-winged, on an axis, and sealed against gases. (These have been constructed in new residences since 1992.)

MAMAK – Story-wide Secure Space: A concrete-constructed space located in a common area of the story, and intended for use by the residents of a number of apartments. It has a door capable of withstanding shock waves, an emergency rescue opening in the ceiling, and two air hoses in the floor. (These have been constructed in new apartment buildings since 1992.)

MAMAM – Institutional Secure Space: This is identical to the story-wide secure space, and is located in institutional buildings.

Secure Room: A room located as far as possible from the direction of the imminent threat of rocket fire. It is best if the room has a minimum of external walls, windows and openings.

Private Shelter (not requiring one to move from one structure to another): This is constructed with a concrete shell, and is located on the ground floor or in the basement. It has an anti-shock wave steel door, and a steel emergency exit measuring 60x80 cm. (24”x32”), both with rubber sealing strips. It is best to follow the recommendations publicized in the media and choose the secure space based on specific directions for given locations in the country.

Public Shelter: Similar to the private shelter, but located outside the residence.

Secure Space: This is a general term including the HADAB, the MAMAD, the MAMAK and the MAMAM.

* As part of its response to the threat of Qassam and other rocket attacks, the Home Front Command formulates policies regarding civil defense that the public should follow in the event of an attack.

* These principles have been very carefully examined, and they allow people to choose the solution that is best suited and most available to them, so that they may protect themselves in the face of a given threat.

When you hear an explosion, a siren, or the “tzeva adom” (“color red”) alert:

If you are indoors:

* Immediately enter the Residential Secure Space (MAMAD), and close the steel window.

* If there is no MAMAD in the structure, enter the room that is located farthest from the direction of the threat. It is best if this room has a minimum of external walls, windows or opening. If there is no such room, go into the stairwell.

* Inside the secure space/room, sit on the floor, beneath the height of the window, against an interior wall. Do not sit opposite a window.

* Residents of the upper floor of a building without a MAMAD must enter the stairwell, and descend one flight of stairs, in order to avoid injury should the roof of the building sustain a hit.

If you are outdoors:

* In a built-up area: Enter the nearest structure, and follow the indoors directions.

* If you are in an open area: Lie down on your stomach and protect your head with your hands.

If you are in a vehicle:

* Carefully stop your vehicle at the side of the road, exit the vehicle and enter the nearest shelter.

* In an open area: Carefully stop your vehicle at the side of the road, exit the vehicle, lie down on your stomach and protect your head with your hands.

After 10 minutes:

You may exit the secure space, unless you have been otherwise directed.

It is important to stay away from unidentified objects or from a rocket lying on the ground. Keep onlookers away, and immediately notify the police.

event of rocket fire in all places you frequent with regularity, according to the following list of priorities:

* MAMAD – Residential Secure Space.

* If there is no MAMAD in the building, enter a secure room chosen according to directions. In other words, the MAMAD is preferable to a shelter. A shelter is relevant only if it takes you less than 15 seconds (the length of warning given) to reach it, and does not involve exiting the structure you are in (going to another building or going to a public shelter in the street).

It is important to designate well ahead of time the location you are to enter in the event of rocket fire in all places you frequent with regularity, according to the following list of priorities:

* MAMAD – Residential Secure Space.

* If there is no MAMAD in the building, enter the room that is located farthest from the direction of the threat. It is best if this room has a minimum of external walls, windows or opening.

* If there is no such room, go into the stairwell.

Residents of the upper floor of a building without a MAMAD must enter the stairwell, and descend one flight of stairs. Getting to the shelter is preferable, but this is not always possible within 15 seconds (the length of warning given). Therefore, in order to avoid injury should the roof of the building sustain a hit, residents of upper floors enter the stairwell, and descend one flight of stairs, thus increasing their level of protection.

If you are indoors:

* Immediately enter the Residential Secure Space (MAMAD), and close the steel window.

* If there is no MAMAD in the structure, enter the room that is located farthest from the direction of the threat. It is best if this room has a minimum of external walls, windows or opening. If there is no such room, go into the stairwell.

* Inside the secure space/room, sit on the floor, beneath the height of the window, against an interior wall. Do not sit opposite a window.

* Residents of the upper floor of a building without a MAMAD must enter the stairwell, and descend one flight of stairs, in order to avoid injury should the roof of the building sustain a hit.

If you are outdoors:

* In a built-up area: Enter the nearest structure, and follow the indoors directions.

* If you are in an open area: Lie down on your stomach and protect your head with your hands.

If you are in a vehicle:

* Carefully stop your vehicle at the side of the road, exit the vehicle and enter the nearest shelter.

* In an open area: Carefully stop your vehicle at the side of the road, exit the vehicle, lie down on your stomach and protect your head with your hands.

After 10 minutes:

You may exit the secure space, unless you have been otherwise directed.

It is important to stay away from unidentified objects or from a rocket lying on the ground. Keep onlookers away, and immediately notify the police.