Under the directives of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, 22 government departments will participate in the drill, which will start at 8 a.m. in the eastern districts that were the hardest hit by last year’s floods.
Homes in east Jeddah, schools and government buildings will be evacuated during the drill in which 80 officers and 600 Civil Defense privates will participate. The drill will begin with warning sirens.
Maj. Gen. Adel Al-Zamzami, director of the Civil Defense in Makkah province, said his department has made preparations for the rainy season with a number of plans that will prevent the recurrence of last year’s catastrophe. He said the Civil Defense has been provided with new equipment and has established departments in areas described as danger zones last year.
Director of the Civil Defense in Jeddah Brig. Abdullah Jiddawi said Prince Mishaal has called for the drill to check how well the city is ready to deal with torrential rains and floods. “We held a meeting which was attended by 22 government departments and during which the responsibilities of each department were clearly specified in case of new rains and floods,” he said.
Jeddah municipality has already made plans for the next rainy season and has determined the locations which may be most affected. It has also specified places where necessary tools and equipment would be installed.
The plans have determined the duties and responsibilities of each government department and means of coordination among them to face any possible natural disaster.
These departments include the police, the security patrols, the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, the Directorate General of Traffic, the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Water and Electricity, the Ministry of Transport and the National Electricity Company.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electricity and Water has announced that the sewage lake east of Briman has been dried up and will be handed back to the municipality in two months.
