Plant closing and notice period questions - 10 months and counting

I received a formal notice about a mass layoff at my workplace. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I do not know if I should start looking now or wait for severance news. What did the workforce office offer?

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It saved me later.

I stayed for the retention bonus and looked for work on the side. It cushioned the gap.