Shelters in Israel: mamad, miklat, and what to do during an alert

Israel uses two main types of shelters: the mamad and the miklat. Both are designed to protect people during missile alerts, rocket fire, and other emergencies.

Mamad: protected room inside an apartment

A mamad is a reinforced protected room inside a home or apartment. Newer buildings in Israel usually include one.

Typical features of a mamad:

  • reinforced concrete walls and ceiling
  • steel blast-resistant door
  • sealed window with a heavy metal shutter
  • air-tight design for short-term protection

A mamad is the fastest option. When an alert sounds, people inside the apartment go directly into the mamad and close the door and window shutter.

What to keep in the mamad

Keep the room ready at all times. Store:

  • bottled water
  • flashlight with spare batteries
  • phone charger or power bank
  • basic first-aid kit
  • essential medications
  • copies of important documents
  • radio or another way to receive updates
  • a small amount of food that does not need cooking
  • diapers, formula, or other items for children if needed
  • blanket or light sleeping bag

Keep shoes near the door. Keep a torch within reach. Keep the room clear enough for people to enter quickly.

How to use the mamad

  1. Move there immediately when the siren sounds.
  2. Close the door.
  3. Close the window shutter.
  4. Stay inside until the official instruction to leave.
  5. Keep children close and calm.
  6. Do not block the exit with furniture or boxes.

If there is no time to reach the mamad, follow the nearest protected area in the building and stay away from windows.

Miklat: public shelter

A miklat is a public shelter. It is usually located in a building, basement, or shared area and serves several residents or nearby people.

There are two main types:

  • private building shelter for residents of one building
  • public neighborhood shelter for people in the area

A miklat is used when a home does not have a mamad or when people are outside and need the closest protected space.

What to expect in a miklat

Public shelters are basic. They are meant for protection, not comfort. They usually have:

  • thick reinforced walls
  • a heavy door
  • limited seating
  • minimal lighting
  • shared access for many people

Keep the shelter clean and leave it usable for others.

How to find the nearest shelter

Know the shelter before an emergency starts.

At home

  • Learn the location of the mamad if your apartment has one.
  • If there is no mamad, find the nearest miklat in your building.
  • Ask the landlord, building committee, or neighbors where the shelter is.
  • Walk the route in advance.

In the street

  • Look for public shelters marked with signs.
  • Use local municipal emergency information.
  • Use the Home Front Command emergency guidance app or local alert systems.
  • Ask shopkeepers, guards, or residents where the nearest protected space is.

In a building

The nearest option is usually:

  1. your mamad
  2. the building miklat
  3. the safest interior stairwell or protected area if neither is available

Do not waste time looking for the “perfect” shelter during an alert. Go to the closest protected space immediately.

Rules of conduct inside a shelter

Shelters work only when people use them correctly.

Inside a mamad or miklat

  • Enter quickly and stay calm.
  • Close doors behind you.
  • Keep the passage clear.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not use open flames.
  • Do not crowd the entrance.
  • Keep noise low so instructions can be heard.
  • Follow official alerts and do not leave early.

With children

  • Hold small children or keep them close.
  • Explain the routine in simple words.
  • Bring a comfort item if there is time.
  • Do not let children run around the shelter.

With neighbors and strangers

  • Share the space.
  • Make room for elderly people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
  • Keep arguments out of the shelter.
  • Help people who need assistance entering or sitting down.

What not to do

Do not:

  • stay near windows
  • use elevators after the alert starts
  • stand in stairwell openings
  • leave the shelter before the all-clear
  • block the shelter door
  • treat the shelter as storage space
  • ignore the siren because “it sounds far away”

Before an emergency

Prepare now:

  • Identify the mamad or miklat in every place where you spend time.
  • Save emergency numbers and local alert apps.
  • Keep a ready bag near the door.
  • Make sure children know where to go.
  • Check that the shelter is accessible.
  • Keep water, light, and medication ready.

A shelter saves time only if people already know where it is and how to use it.