First Extreme Yellow Dust Experience

When I left the house this morning it felt tight in my chest and throat, it was a little difficult to breathe. I didn't think anything about it but later a friend came over and told me that the yellow dust levels were above 800. When I checked the web page the levels were 1049 .
We are warned to stay indoors, the children at the school are not allowed to play outside and the people that you do see outside all have masks.
The weather has just started to warm up and normally I would open up the windows, not wear a coat and force the kids outside but this is not a normal situation.We have now started the "Yellow Dust" season. Here is a link for more information.
What it looks like; The air has a haze similar to smoke from a fire. I can see about a block ahead, but not much further. I could even feel a slight burn in my chest when breathing.
Chris usually walks to work and the girls walk to school. School isn't very far but I'm worried about Sophia, she had such a horrible reaction to this stuff. Last year her skin broke out and she had a cough that lasted for months and the levels weren't even close to this high. Chris wont be walking so I will either drive him or he will take the car. This is the only time I wish we had 2 cars.