diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 06cff1c..88d4c8b 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -1001,6 +1001,13 @@ Sovereignty and service always.`;
     var first = focusable[0];
     var last = focusable[focusable.length - 1];
 
+    // If focus escaped outside the overlay (e.g. to body), redirect to first
+    if (!crisisOverlay.contains(document.activeElement)) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      first.focus();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (e.shiftKey) {
       // Shift+Tab: if on first, wrap to last
       if (document.activeElement === first) {
@@ -1050,38 +1057,55 @@ Sovereignty and service always.`;
       }
     }, 1000);
 
-    overlayDismissBtn.focus();
+    // Focus the first focusable element (call link) — dismiss button is still disabled
+    var firstFocusable = crisisOverlay.querySelector('a[href], button:not([disabled]), [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])');
+    if (firstFocusable) {
+      firstFocusable.focus();
+    }
   }
 
   // Register focus trap on document (always listening, gated by class check)
   document.addEventListener('keydown', trapFocusInOverlay);
 
+  function dismissOverlay() {
+    crisisOverlay.classList.remove('active');
+    if (overlayTimer) {
+      clearInterval(overlayTimer);
+      overlayTimer = null;
+    }
+
+    // Re-enable background interaction
+    var mainApp = document.querySelector('.app');
+    if (mainApp) mainApp.removeAttribute('inert');
+    var chatSection = document.getElementById('chat');
+    if (chatSection) chatSection.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
+    var footerEl = document.querySelector('footer');
+    if (footerEl) footerEl.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
+
+    // Restore focus to the element that had it before the overlay opened
+    if (_preOverlayFocusElement && typeof _preOverlayFocusElement.focus === 'function') {
+      _preOverlayFocusElement.focus();
+    } else {
+      msgInput.focus();
+    }
+    _preOverlayFocusElement = null;
+  }
+
   overlayDismissBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {
     if (!overlayDismissBtn.disabled) {
-      crisisOverlay.classList.remove('active');
-      if (overlayTimer) {
-        clearInterval(overlayTimer);
-        overlayTimer = null;
-      }
-
-      // Re-enable background interaction
-      var mainApp = document.querySelector('.app');
-      if (mainApp) mainApp.removeAttribute('inert');
-      var chatSection = document.getElementById('chat');
-      if (chatSection) chatSection.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
-      var footerEl = document.querySelector('footer');
-      if (footerEl) footerEl.removeAttribute('aria-hidden');
-
-      // Restore focus to the element that had it before the overlay opened
-      if (_preOverlayFocusElement && typeof _preOverlayFocusElement.focus === 'function') {
-        _preOverlayFocusElement.focus();
-      } else {
-        msgInput.focus();
-      }
-      _preOverlayFocusElement = null;
+      dismissOverlay();
     }
   });
 
+  // Escape key closes crisis overlay (only after dismiss button is enabled)
+  document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
+    if (e.key !== 'Escape') return;
+    if (!crisisOverlay.classList.contains('active')) return;
+    if (overlayDismissBtn.disabled) return;  // Don't bypass countdown
+    e.preventDefault();
+    dismissOverlay();
+  });
+
   // ===== MESSAGE RENDERING =====
   function addMessage(role, text, skipSave) {
     var div = document.createElement('div');