The National Homefront exercise begins today, Monday, May 23, 2010. The IDF Homefront Command, the National Emergency Authority, search and rescue forces, local Israeli authorities, government offices, security organizations, the education system as well as public and private organizations will participate in the exercise.

The exercise is aimed at improving national preparedness and responses of the home front to emergencies. The exercise will improve cooperation between the various organizations and institutions and prepare them for different scenarios.

The exercise, taking place for the fourth consecutive year, was scheduled and planned in advance as a part of the IDF’s 2010 training plan. This exercise is an additional measure taken by Israel to prepare the public and the local authorities for emergency periods.

A 1.5-minute-long siren will be heard throughout the country on Wednesday, May 26th 2010 at 11:00 AM. In addition, on Tuesday through Thursday, June 25th-27th field training exercises will take place simulating different scenarios during which additional sirens will be heard.

The education system will also take part in the exercise, during which the students and teachers will simulate entering the designated secured areas.

This year the exercise will focus on the preparedness of the local authorities during emergencies. The exercise will replicate emergency scenarios in more than 30 local authorities throughout Israel in cooperation with the Home-Front Command.

The IDF Spokesperson and the IDF Home Front Command ask that the Israeli public take part in the exercise and be aware of the instructions given by the Home Front Command which have proven to be effective and life-saving.

Following the siren, the public will practice entering the designated secured area and stay there for approximately ten minutes. In cases where entering the designated secured area is not possible, the public is asked to methodically carry out the necessary actions that are to be taken during an emergency and practice them as soon as possible.

The exercise will also examine warning systems on cellular phones and civilians in certain areas may therefore receive text messages that read “Have a nice day” signed by the Home Front Command.

In addition, the IDF Homefront Command will practice distributing protective kits to the public during emergency periods. The distribution points will be opened for one day on May 26th in several locations; Tzfat, Yokneam, Tira, Tzur Hadassah, Rishon L’Tzion, Petah Tikvah, Holon and the Reading Power Station in Tel Aviv. Residents of these cities will receive invitations via post.

During the exercise, all essential services, including hospitals, public transportation, conventions and public events will continue to work as usual.

•        If you fail to hear the siren, please contact and inform the Homefront Command Information Center at #1207.
•        For information related to public and private shelters please contact municipal information centers.
•        For further information contact Home Front Command Information Center at #1207 or the internet website at WWW.OREF.ORG.IL

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem / IDF)