Israel has several types of protected spaces. Know in advance which one exists in your building and how to use it.

Mamad (ממ"ד) — Apartment Protected Room

Mamad stands for Merkhav Mugan Dirati — a reinforced room inside an apartment or private home. Required in all buildings constructed after 1992.

Features:

  • Reinforced concrete walls
  • Steel armored door, locked by turning the handle 90 degrees
  • Steel shutters and an inner glass window — both must be closed
  • Independent ventilation (protection against chemical threats)

In peacetime, mamadim are typically used as bedrooms, offices, or storage rooms.

How to seal a mamad correctly: close the door and turn the handle 90 degrees. Lower the steel shutters and close the inner window glass.

Mamak (ממ"ק) — Floor Shelter

A mamak is a reinforced protected space shared between several apartments on a floor. Protection level matches the mamad, but reaching it takes time — factor this in during short alert windows.

Miklat (מקלט) — Public Shelter

A miklat is a communal shelter located in a building basement or a separate structure, maintained by the municipality.

How to find one: look for the yellow-green sign at the entrance. To locate the nearest miklat, call 106.

Note: a building miklat can be used only if reachable via internal stairwell in time. A public miklat — only if reachable within the alert window.

Interior Corridor or Stairwell

If none of the above is accessible, go to an internal corridor or stairwell with no windows, located above ground level.

What Cannot Be Used as Shelter

The Home Front Command explicitly prohibits: bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, underground parking (unless separately certified), and building entrances or lobbies — they offer no blast protection.

What to Keep in Your Mamad

Prepare in advance:

  • Water — at least 4 liters per person
  • Flashlight with spare batteries
  • Battery-powered radio
  • First aid kit and personal medications
  • Phone charger
  • Document copies
  • 2–3 days of food
  • For children: toys and a change of clothes

Official website: oref.org.il