Mishal Al-Otaibi Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad Bin Naif has ordered the mobilization of all resources to handle any emergencies that could occur due to weather changes over the next few days. Spokesman for the Directorate General of Civil Defense Col. Abdullah Al-Harthi said the minister of interior is closely monitoring the situation in addition to the regional emirs, who are following up preparations for the implementation of field plans for coping with emergencies throughout the country. Al-Harthi said Lt. Gen. Saad Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, Director General of Civil Defense, has issued directives to all Civil Defense directors throughout the Kingdom to upgrade their alert levels in preparation for the expected weather changes. They should take all precautionary measures for the quick deployment of safety patrols and field teams at locations likely to be affected by rainwater as well as neighboring valleys and flood courses that pass near inhabited areas, he said. He called for creating awareness and alerting citizens and expatriates on the preventive measures they ought to take in such conditions. Al-Tuwaijri called for coordination with all ministries and government authorities concerned with carrying out Civil Defense work to face emergency cases in every region. The Civil Defense committees in the regions and governorates and ad hoc committees that include representatives from all concerned authorities will be constantly active until the state of emergency ends. Rescue teams will be deployed at all locations likely to be inundated by floods and rainwater and will set up shelter and relief centers. Al-Harthi said the Civil Defense Directorate's command and control center is in constant contact with the Presidency of Meteorology and the Environment (PME) and all other authorities concerned with monitoring the weather locally and internationally, besides climate experts in the Kingdom. A meeting was held at the Civil Defense with these experts last Saturday. He said experts in risk management and analysis are monitoring and analyzing all weather changes and passing the information to regional command and control centers. He added that channels of communication between the Civil Defense and Ministry of Culture and Information are open to broadcast warning messages. Al-Harthi appealed to citizens and expatriates to visit the Civil Defense website and its pages on social media and familiarize themselves with the guidelines and instructions.
