Guide library
Emergency alerts and regional emergencies
What to do when an alert sounds: shelter, stay calm, follow official instructions only.
Guide · 2 min read
During a regional emergency, the authorities may send alerts to every phone and ask people to take shelter or stay at home. This guide follows the public advice given by UAE authorities: shelter in a secure building away from windows, stay calm, rely only on official sources, and keep away from any debris. Always follow the instructions of your own national authorities, which come first.
In Sakeena you can tick each step and see your progress. It stays on your device. Open it as a checklist
Do now
- Make sure emergency alerts are switched on in your phone settings, and keep the phone where you will hear it at night.
- Choose your safest spot at home: an inner room or corridor with few or no windows, away from glass.
- Keep a grab-and-go bag for 2 to 3 days, and build a home supply for longer, gradually over several weeks. Do not panic buy.
- Save your official channels: national emergency authority, police and civil defence. Agree as a family to trust only these.
- Agree who collects the children from school, your meeting points and your out-of-city contact. Write them on your family contact card.
Do within 15 minutes
- When an alert sounds, go into the nearest secure building at once. At home, move to your safe spot, away from windows, doors and open areas.
- Stay calm. Keep children and elders close, and take your phone and charger with you.
- Do not go outside to look or to film. Wait for official instructions before you move.
- Call your emergency number only for a real emergency, so the lines stay free for people who need them.
Do in the first day
- Stay indoors unless the authorities say otherwise, and follow their updates.
- If you see debris or a suspicious object, keep away. Do not touch or photograph it; report it to the police.
- Check before you share. Do not forward rumours or unverified videos.
- Check on neighbours, older people living alone and household helpers who may not understand the alert language.
- If you must stay in a closed room for a long time in hot weather, keep drinking water and watch for signs of heat illness. Follow official advice about air conditioning.
Do daily
- Keep phones charged and a battery radio ready.
- Keep to normal routines as far as the authorities allow. Routines help children feel safe.
- Talk to children simply and calmly, and limit what they see of frightening news and videos.
- Use your supplies steadily and buy normal amounts. Panic buying empties shelves for other families.
- Look after yourself too: rest, pray, talk to family, and ask for support if worry becomes hard to manage.
Beta version, still being tested. Educational only. Numbers are planning figures, not guarantees. Follow instructions from your national authorities. Official links and numbers