hit districts of Al-Samir, Al-Tawfeeq and Umm Al-Khair gathered at a Civil Defense point to register their losses, and others sought dinghies to help them reach their still semi-submerged houses, some victims related their stories of escape and loss. Jabir Al-Safri from Al-Tawfeeq District recalls how he was at his office when he got a call from home saying water had started to rise in the district, and that at first he did not pay particular attention. “Water always appears in the streets when it rains,” he said. “But then I got a second a call saying it had started entering the house. A third call said it had reached the first floor,” he said. “I told everyone to go onto the roof of the house.” At around five o'clock in the evening Jabir reached the edge of the Al-Tawfeeq District and saw for himself the extent of the flooding. “Some houses were almost half submerged,” he said. “I tried to get to my house anyway I could, but there was no way, and there were no Civil Defense men around or anyone else to help me get there.” He said he found a small dinghy and rowed it to his house where all 10 members of his family had taken refuge on the roof. “A Civil Defense helicopter was hovering above us all that time,” he said. The following day at dawn boats from rescue authorities arrived at the house and took everyone to safety. The family was given accommodation at a furnished apartment. “We couldn't really believe what had happened,” Jabir said. “It was the first moment we'd had to actually take in what was going on.” He later returned to the house with the help of an official boat to recover important documents, and two days later Jabir took them to the Civil Defense for them to pay for their lodgings. Ali Al-Qarni found himself and his two sons in his car on their home when the rains hit. “My first though was to get them somewhere safe,” he said. “But before we knew the car was being swept up and carried off, and it was over a hundred meters before we came to a stop. We were close to home and water started entering the car, so we got out and managed to reach the house and went up to the second floor. Eventually we were rescued by boats, and as we left the house we could see our neighbors on top of their house being airlifted by a helicopter. We heard that some of our neighbors had died.” Ahmad Al-Shareef says he won't forget the scenes as the rains struck while he was returning from work in the Al-Hamra District. “I saw one guy clinging on to an electricity pole,” he said. “No one could help him, he was impossible to get to because of the rushing floodwaters. As he clung on I could see a rescue helicopter above and he tried to wave to it for help, but then the waters swept him away and he disappeared from sight.” His attentions then turned to the safety of his own family, having already received a phone call from his wife to say that water was entering their house. “I told her to get everyone on the roof until I arrive. When I did, I couldn't have imagined the amount of water that was filling the streets and houses. By then there was no way we could get out, we were completely surrounded.” He said that from the roof of their house he and his family could only be helpless observers as they saw people being swept past in cars, crying out for help. The Civil Defense was pulling people out with ropes, and everyone who could was helping to save everyone else in distress.” Dahisha, a divorcee speaking from the furnished apartment in the Al-Naseem District, lives with her six children in a rundown building in the district of Ghulail. “This is the second time we've been hit by the floods,” she said. “What is a woman like me supposed to do? Our house is falling down, and all I want right now is some help. When I asked for blankets I was only given one. When I asked for another I was told one would be enough if we all slept together! Nobody listens to us.”
