Sixth graders drill exit from shelters through emergency hatches as Bet Hakerem elementary school drills missile bombardment and evacuation to shelters. Jerusalem, Israel. 15/03/2011.

In the wake of Middle East unrest and instability of Arab regimes the IDF Home Front Command conducted a nationwide missile drill in schools today. Based on ballistics, missile trajectories and current surrounding threats the IDF has determined a 3-minute window for Jerusalemites to get to safe shelter in the event of incoming missiles.

In the Bet Hakerem Elementary School in Jerusalem, eleven-year veteran teacher Liza Feldman is responsible, in addition to her teaching duties, for safety and security in school. This responsibility requires Feldman to educate, brief and train faculty and students in response to emergencies. It's her job to make sure the school's 570 students are in the underground shelter within 3 minutes - no easy task! Sixth graders are trained as ushers and assistants and are eager to help.

This time it was an exercise. Teachers and students took it very seriously but also allowed themselves to have some fun and skip a few minutes of class. Liza Feldman knows they were 15 seconds late.

3 minutesBet HakeremHome Front CommandIsraelJerusalemLiza Feldmanbombardmentbriefbriefingchildrendrilleducateelementary schoolemergenciesemergencyevacuationmiddle eastmiddleeastmissilemissilespreparednesspupilsquickquicklyrocketrocketssafetyschoolsecuritysheltersheltersstudentstudentsteacherthree minutestraintrainingundergroundurgencyurgentwarwarfareyoung201103155D021668MissilesDrill