In Israel, unfortunately, we are used to running to a shelter when sirens blare. Long before the current war against Iran and the Gaza war of “Iron Swords,” rocket alerts were part of reality. Whether during the Second Lebanon War in 2006 or the Gaza War in 2014 – as soon as the alarm sounds, it’s a race against seconds.
Those who are at home and have their own shelter have it easy. Older buildings often have a bunker in the basement – that’s still relatively convenient. It gets trickier for those who are out and about. They need to seek out one of the public shelters scattered across many cities. But even that isn’t guaranteed everywhere.
If someone is in a residential area without public shelters during an alarm, they depend on the help of others. In Israel, it’s legally required that shelters – whether private or communal – must be open to strangers. City administrations and the Home Front Command regularly urge residents not to lock the front doors of apartment buildings so that passersby can quickly find safety...
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