The flood control projects undertaken by the Jeddah municipality include new drainage canals in Samer district and a huge flood-water collection tank in Umm Al-Khair.

No less than 2 million man hours of work have been carried out to complete 62 percent of the Samer project and 78 percent of the Umm Al-Khair project over the past two and a half months. While the southern and eastern canals have been completed, work on the northern canal is progressing as scheduled.

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has forecast active surface winds over parts of western Saudi Arabia and rainfall in Jeddah on Monday.

The rain comes as the second anniversary of the Nov. 25, 2009, Jeddah flood disaster draws near.

The flood control projects were launched following the devastation caused by another flood disaster on Jan. 26 this year. At least 142 people died in the two calamities, which also caused massive material losses.

Director General of Civil Defense in the Makkah Province Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami said 16 centers to counter rain related emergencies have been set up in different parts of Jeddah. Police, the Civil Defense, the traffic police and municipality are all working together for the success of the emergency centers.

“The centers are manned by a sufficient number of men supported by rescue equipment and supplies to deal with any crisis. The equipment include amphibian vehicles, mobile warning siren systems and rubber boats in addition to ordinary rescue and evacuation machinery,” he said.

The Civil Defense has installed 45 fixed warning sirens at different locations in the city besides 50 mobile warning systems, he said.

The Civil Defense will also seek the help of local radio and television stations to warn the public in the event of a calamity. It will also use loudspeakers to inform people about what they should do and where they should go and not go in addition to other steps they should take.

The municipality has also taken measures to mobilize a sufficient number of trucks to pump out water from puddles on roads, intersections and residential areas after rain occurs. Drainage facilities have also been implemented in areas vulnerable to stagnant water, according to sources in the municipality.

Residents have started browsing weather forecast sites to obtain news about rains in Jeddah. Many living in east and south Jeddah neighborhoods fear a repetition of the crises of 2009 and 2011 in the event of heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, sources in the company implementing the storm water drainage projects in Jeddah (Nesma) confirmed to Arab News that 99 percent of the projects are complete in 12 locations in Jeddah, adding the completion and delivery of the projects will be on time.

Director of Civil Defense in Jeddah Brig. Gen. Abdullah Jeddawi said the group has taken all possibilities into consideration and is prepared for any emergency. “We have divided the city into 16 divisions and work is under way to organize officers and individuals to put the new plan, which sees close cooperation with all other departments, into effect,” he said.

— With input from Muhammad Humaidan