Emergency preparedness in rural and isolated communities

How to use this guide

A rural or isolated community may depend on a single access road, fuel supply, water pumps, limited communications, and distant services. Household planning should therefore fit into the community and regional-council plan and take into account the possibility of remaining inside the community for an extended period.

Five questions to ask first

• Is the main access road open, and if not, is there an approved alternative?
• Have residents been instructed to remain in buildings or in the community, or to evacuate?
• Does the household have enough water, medications, food, and fuel for essential needs only?
• Is there a dependent person, livestock, or medical equipment that requires continuous care?
• Does the local emergency team or regional council know about a special need that cannot be solved independently?

Community Emergency and Resilience Team: a local team of role-holders and volunteers that operates during emergencies to assist with coordination, information, identifying needs, initial support for residents, and liaison between the community, local authority, and emergency services.

1. Prepare in advance

Household and community plan

• Save the phone numbers of the regional-council hotline, community emergency team, community security coordinator, water corporation, and regional clinic.
• Know who is authorized to issue local instructions and which channel provides updates even without internet service.
• Choose an out-of-area contact and a family meeting point if needed.
• Check in advance who can help a person without a car, an older adult, a person with a disability, or a household without a support network.
• Practice different scenarios: leaving home quickly with basic supplies without overloading the vehicle; helping someone without a car or who needs assistance; reporting to the community emergency team; reaching a collection point; a backup when the driver, car, or caregiver is unavailable; and leaving home during a power or communications outage.

Community security coordinator: the local role responsible for coordinating community security matters, operating local defense and readiness components, and liaising with security agencies, emergency services, and the local authority.

Household supplies and infrastructure for a prolonged stay

If there is a possibility that residents may need to remain in their homes or community for an extended period:

• Store water, food, medications, lighting, radio, batteries, and chargers according to Home Front Command guidance.
• If storing fuel, use only approved containers and legal quantities; never store fuel inside the home or near a heat source.
• Know which systems your home depends on, such as a water pump, well, generator, elevator, local sewage system, or other infrastructure.
• Keep manual keys for electric gates and, when possible and safe, know an alternative opening method.
• Keep important documents, and for livestock operations also a printed list of animals and supplier details.

2. At the start of an event

• Follow national and local protection instructions.
• Do not drive out merely to “see what happened” or search for an unapproved alternative route.
• Report a blocked road, infrastructure damage, trapped person, or medical need to the community emergency team or council hotline.
• Reduce use of fuel, water, and electricity until the likely duration of the disruption becomes clearer.
• Keep children and animals away from hazards such as fallen power lines, fire, flooding, suspicious objects, or hazardous materials.
• If it can be done safely from a distance, document the time, location, and type of hazard without approaching it.

3. When the access road is blocked

• Do not move a fallen tree, utility pole, landslide debris, suspicious vehicle, or ammunition.
• Do not take a private car onto a dirt road, streambed, or agricultural track as an alternative route unless explicitly authorized.
• Consolidate essential trips and confirm destination, route, and fuel before leaving.
• If medical treatment is needed, contact the health fund, regional clinic, or Magen David Adom 101 early.
• Do not mark, prepare, or enter an area intended for helicopter landing on your own. If a relevant authority designates a meeting or landing point, follow its instructions and keep away from the area.
• Report anyone who cannot reach an essential service; do not wait for the situation to worsen.

4. Electricity, water, and communications

• During a power outage, keep refrigerators and freezers closed and record the time of the outage.
• Do not connect a generator to the household electrical system without professional installation and an appropriate transfer switch.
• Operate a generator only outdoors, away from openings, and according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• If a water pump or well is not working, conserve water and prioritize drinking, medication, and essential hygiene.
• Do not drink from an unapproved private or natural water source.

Important: A damaged power line, gas odor, water contamination, or sewage overflow is not an ordinary household repair. Keep away and report it; do not attempt a repair yourself.

• When the cellular network is functioning but overloaded, prefer a short, clear text message over repeated calls.
• When cellular service is unavailable, use the alternative communication channel established by the community, such as radio, public-address system, or two-way radios.

5. Livestock, pets, and agriculture

• Prepare water, food, medications, identification, and veterinarian contact details in advance.
• Maintain safe access to animals when possible, without violating protection instructions.
• Do not risk human life to save equipment, crops, or animals during firing, fire, or a hazardous-material event.
• Plan in advance who cares for animals if the household evacuates.
• Report severe shortages of water, feed, or veterinary care to the council or Ministry of Agriculture.
• Work in open areas only in accordance with protection policy and the instructions of the employer and relevant authority.

6. Evacuating a rural community

• For a planned evacuation, follow the evacuation order and designated route; do not form an independent convoy onto an unapproved road. In an urgent life-saving evacuation, follow security-force instructions.
• Take an emergency bag, medications, documents, water, children's supplies, and communication equipment.
• If you evacuate independently and circumstances allow, tell the community emergency team who left and who stayed, where you went, an available phone number, and any unresolved medical or essential need. Update the team if your place of stay later changes.
• Pick up another person only if this fits your household action plan and does not delay safe departure.
• Shut off water, electricity, or gas only if instructed and only when it can be done without delay or risk.
• When possible and consistent with evacuation arrangements, stay in contact with the community and its representatives at the reception location. If you independently relocate elsewhere, update the community contact so residents can be located and services coordinated.
• Do not return until an explicit notice allows it.

A planned evacuation allows time for preparation, registration, and departure along a designated route to a designated destination.

An urgent evacuation is intended to save life when immediate departure is required; follow security-force instructions, take only essential items within reach, and do not delay to collect property.

7. People who need additional planning

Person without a car

Arrange transportation in advance with the council, community emergency team, family member, or neighbor rather than improvising during evacuation.

Dependent person or person with a disability

With consent, communicate the need to the community emergency team or authority, prepare equipment, accessible transportation and an accessible destination, and ensure caregiver backup and continuity of treatment after arrival.

Farmer or farm owner

Separate essential tasks that can be performed safely from tasks that require a professional team or authorization.

Isolated household

Set regular check-in times and report loss of communication or access early.

Speakers of different languages

Prepare an official translated update source in advance and contact details for someone who can explain notices.

Reminder: what not to do

• Do not clear a blocked route or enter dangerous terrain to create a shortcut.
• Do not touch power lines, ammunition, fragments, suspicious objects, or suspected hazardous materials.
• Do not store fuel illegally or operate a generator inside a building.
• Do not operate agricultural equipment in open areas contrary to instructions.
• Do not publish locations of forces, incident scenes, impacts, or personal details of casualties.
• Do not use the community emergency team as a substitute for Magen David Adom, police, fire and rescue, or a professional service.
• Do not delay evacuation to save property, crops, or animals.

8. Short action sheet

Print the action sheet or save as PDF

Independent publication: This guide was developed by Prepared Home. It is not produced, approved, or operated by the organizations mentioned in it.

Sources checked in August 2026.

Main sources

Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. Community Emergency and Resilience Team manual, 2026.

Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. Community Emergency and Resilience Team — Social Work Regulations instruction 7.13.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Emergency instructions.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Questions and answers for agriculture during emergencies.

Home Front Command. Preparing for extended power outages.

Home Front Command. Questions and answers — emergency preparedness.

Ministry of Interior. Management of rural communities.

State Comptroller. Regulation and operation of community emergency teams at the start of the Swords of Iron War, 2025.

State Comptroller. Evacuation of populations from local authorities in southern Israel and contact with evacuees, in the special report on evacuation and reception, 2025.