Air Raid Response: Finding Shelter and Staying Safe

Do not wait. Air raid sirens mean active danger. Stop what you're doing. Move toward shelter now.

If indoors, stay indoors. If outdoors, find the nearest shelter immediately.

Basement is safest. Go to the lowest level away from windows and exterior walls.

If no basement, move to an interior room on the ground floor (bathroom, closet, hallway). Avoid top floors and corner rooms.

Close all windows and doors. Draw curtains or cover windows to reduce flying glass and blast pressure effects.

Pull over away from power lines and bridges. Turn off engine. Exit the car.

Run to the nearest building entrance. If no building nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low depression at least 300 meters (1000 feet) from the road. Keep your head down.

Do not try to outrun the raid by driving—you will be trapped in traffic.

Enter the nearest building and go to its center. Descend to the basement or ground floor interior room.

If no building is accessible, lie flat in a ravine, ditch, or sunken area. Press yourself against one side. Cover your head with your hands or any available material.

Stay away from open streets, bridges, and power lines. These attract and channel blast waves.

Know before the emergency where your workplace shelter is. Ask management or check maps posted on walls.

Typical shelters: basement, reinforced interior room, or stairwell in the building center. Move there quickly. Shut doors behind you.

If your workplace has no designated shelter, move to the most interior, ground-floor room away from windows.

Do not go to the roof or stay high in the building. Do not try to descend many floors—elevators may fail.

Move to the nearest interior hallway or stairwell in the center of the building. Lean against an interior wall, away from windows and exterior walls.

Close all doors between you and the exterior. If possible, move one floor down via stairs.

Bring water, medication, and any essential documents if you have seconds to grab them. Do not delay sheltering to collect items.

Inside, remain calm and quiet. Stay off phones and radios unless reporting life-threatening injury. Listen for the all-clear signal: usually a continuous tone lasting 2–3 minutes, different from the alert siren.

Do not leave shelter until the all-clear sounds. Do not open windows or doors during the raid.

The all-clear signal is continuous, not wailing. Wait until you hear it clearly.

When exiting, move cautiously. Check for downed power lines, debris, and damaged structures. Avoid collapsed buildings and rubble.

If no all-clear signal sounds after 30 minutes of silence, cautiously check outside. Look for emergency personnel or official signage. If danger returns, shelter again immediately.