Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, director general of Civil Defense in Makkah province, said his department has set up 16 such centers in various parts of the city for storing equipment to deal with rains and floods.
"We have selected the locations of these centers in order to cover all parts of the city," Zamzami told reporters. There are three types of centers: nine type-A, three type-B and four type-C centers.
“These different types of centers were established considering the requirements of each location in terms of population, danger posed by floods and their vicinity to flood paths,” he added.
The centers have been provided with 110 homes in accordance with their needs. "We have prepared a plan to operate these centers," he added.
The department will deploy 948 officers and 307 pieces of equipment in these centers.
“We have also prepared a complete plan for the evacuation of people from flood-hit areas,” he explained.
The department has also set up a crisis and catastrophe management center in the province with the support of Saudi Aramco. The center will be manned by representatives of related departments.
“Our department prepares a plan to deal with crises in the province every year. They include plans to deal with rains, floods and tremors, as well as for rescue and sheltering operations. We have identified the roles of some 25 departments in dealing with these crises,” he explained.
Zamzami said aviation security under the Ministry of Interior would support the Civil Defense at times of rain and floods to rescue people caught in floodwaters and transport injured victims to hospitals.
“We have four such planes. We can also seek the help of army planes and Saudi Red Crescent Authority helicopters,” he added.
The department has readied 78 boats in addition to 20 rubber dinghies received from the Border Guard.
“We have also set up 25 sirens in different locations including five at the newly constructed dams east of Jeddah,” he said.
There are 56 mobile sirens that can be operated in times of need to warn the public about possible dangers.
