As of this hour, my favorite radio station is broadcasting rocket launch warnings live. They don’t actually sound the siren, just the DJ breaking into songs announcing in a stern voice: “Right now, sirens are operated in the town of Ashkelon. Residents of Ashkelon are asked to take the necessary precautions.”
What that means is that they have 30 seconds to grab babies out of their cots, kids out of their rooms (or, god forbid, the bath, should they be having one), pets, the elderly, you name it… within 30 seconds the entire family needs to be within the “protected space” or indoors shelter.
That’s if you’re enough lucky to be living in Ashkelon. Anywhere closer to Gaza, and you only get 15 seconds.
Here’s a link to the Israeli Homefront Instuctions Page in English in case you wanna see what it’s like living under constant rocket and mortar fire.
Speaking as a mom here, I can only try and imagine what it must be like. Having to deal with the actual danger and with the repetitive runs to the sheltered space. Can you imagine what it feels like to have the responsibility of running your two, three, or more kids into a sheltered room within 15 seconds? Not to mention doing all of that while trying to keep it cool, so as not to scare the little ones.
Like many Israelis, I remember all too well the Gulf war Scud missile attacks. Similar scenario, though back then we had 4-5 minutes to get into the sheltered room. I still have nightmares to this very day, about having to get my two cats into their baskets in time. I won’t forget the night one of them decided she’s not coming, and I wouldn’t go into the sheltered room without her. I was a kid back then, and only today, as a Mom, I can appreciate how I must have scared my own parents that night.
So, if you want to join in, I highly recommend tuning in to my favorite radio station Galgalatz. You get some good music, and if you suddenly hear the DJ break into a song in a serious voice, try to see which town he’s mentioning: Ashdod, Ashekelon, Netivot… And keep those families at heart:
http://radio.coolsite.co.il/radio.php?radio=8 – get your rockets Live on the air!
Have fun!
p.s. on a more serious note, my heart goes out to the people of Gaza too. The people who don’t even have a sheltered space to run to. Please, keep these children in your heart too. My heart goes out to all the children, in Gaza and the Israeli towns around it.
on Jan 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Thanks for sharing these posts about what is going on there. It puts a human face on things and who knows, maybe someone who has the opportunity to make things different will read it and have their hearts changed.
Blessings, friend!