Protection and Secure Spaces

* 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.

Yes, it is possible to give warnings in advance of a Qassam rocket hit.

About 15 seconds before the estimated time of impact, the Color Red announcement system is activated in the city/town. When you hear either the announcement  “Tzeva Adom” or a siren, you must act according to Home Front Command directions.

* You should remain in the secure space for 10 minutes.

* Should the “tzeva adom” alert or siren be activated again while you are in the secure space, remain in the secure space until 10 minutes after the last announcement or siren.

Unless you have received directions instructing you otherwise, you may exit the secure space only after 10 minutes. Stay tuned to the media in order to receive updated instructions.

If you see a rocket or an unidentified object lying on the ground, stay away, keep onlookers away, and immediately notify the police.

Try to keep to your routine as far as possible, and follow directions regarding how to protect yourself.

If you see a rocket lying on the ground, stay away, keep onlookers away, and immediately notify the police.

The “color red” announcement is broadcast in the settlements and population centers adjacent to the Gaza Strip, Sderot, and Ashkelon. In the other settlements in the conflict zone, a siren is used.

The warning system is activated before most rocket launches.

Contact the municipal hotline for help.

a. In class: Sit on the floor next to an interior wall, but not opposite a window.

b. At recess/en route:

      In an open area: Lie down on your stomach and protect your head with your hands.

      In a built-up area: Enter a structure and stay away from windows.

c. In a vehicle:

* Carefully stop your vehicle at the side of the road.

* It is recommended to leave your car window open a crack so that you can hear the “tzeva adom” announcement.

In most cases, the MAMAD provides a good level of safety for those in it, because most possible injuries are caused by shock waves, and the MAMAD provides good protection against those. Therefore, the risk of injury inside the MAMAD (given a non-direct hit) is minimal.

* Based on the policy on secure spaces, you should enter secure spaces inside your home, and not attempt to reach the shelter.

* Contact the municipal hotline in your town in order to obtain information on public shelters. It is the responsibility of the local authority to maintain public shelters on an ongoing basis, year-round. Opening the shelters is done by a representative of the local authority, based on directives from the Home Front Command.

* The shelter in an apartment building is the property of the residents, and they are responsible for its maintenance.

* In the event that a building shelter is being used without the permission of the residents of that building, the building committee may contact the police and/or break into the shelter in order to use it.

Yes, if your intention is to remain there. The parking structure must be underground or at least enclosed on the side of the direction of the threat.

It is recommended either to open the window or to dismantle it and remove it from the room in order to avoid the possibility of being injured by glass shards.

* You may contact your municipal hotline at tel. 106.

* You may contact the National Information Center of the Home Front Command at tel. 1207.