As the aftermath of the spacecraft’s first pass became apparent, civil protection authorities began issuing guidance to the public that read like instructions for imminent air raids: stay indoors and away from windows or seek shelter immediately during the object’s pass; keep a well-stocked and up-to-date first aid kit at home, flashlights, a radio, and extra batteries; procure provisions for three days; avoid looking up at the sky; and so on. People flocked to places of worship in fear and despair. End-times preachers took to the streets, shouting “the end is nigh” and calling on people to repent, while hundreds of thousands of others hit the highways to flee major cities in the corridor forecast for the next day’s pass, causing huge traffic jams and hours-long delays.