A Guide to the Pikud HaOref (Home Front Command) App*

In the current security reality, the "10-minute rule" is no longer the gold standard. We are now operating on a Positive Confirmation system. Use this guide to ensure your app is configured correctly and your Mamad is truly secure.

1. Location Services

• The Setting: Set Location to "Always" in your phone settings for the Pikud HaOref app.
• The Reason: This turns your phone into a personal radar. You will receive exact, real-time alerts for your specific location anywhere in Israel.

2. Protocol for "All Clear"

• The Protocol: Wait for the "All Clear." Due to high-altitude interceptions, shrapnel and debris can take a long time to fall.
• The Action: Stay in your Mamad until the app displays "Event Ended" (סיום האירוע) or you get the message on your phone. Even if 10 minutes have passed, do not leave until the app confirms it is safe.

3. Understanding "Stay Near" Alert vs. The Siren

• "Stay Near" Alert: This "Yellow Alert" is generally issued for long-range threats (e.g., from Yemen or Iran), giving you an early heads-up. Remain within a 90-second reach of a Mamad. In Beit Shemesh, the siren may follow 15 minutes or more later, so wait patiently.
• Immediate Siren: For closer threats (e.g., from Lebanon or Gaza), there will not be an early warning before the siren sounds. When the siren goes off, you must enter the Mamad within the indicated time (90 seconds in Beit Shemesh).

4. Secure Your Mamad Door

• The Lock: Simply closing the door is not enough. You must lift the handle upward to engage the locking bolts.
• Why: In the event of a nearby impact, the blast wave can suction or blow a door open if it is not fully bolted. Lifting the handle ensures the space remains airtight and secure.

*This information was verified by the Home Front Command, Wed. March 4th, 2026