Civil Defence calls for precautions amid fluctuating weather

The General Directorate of Civil Defense on Sunday warned people of the fluctuating weather conditions that would continue till Monday in several parts of the Kingdom, including Baha, Asir, Jouf, Hail, Madinah, Tabuk, Qassim and Hafr Al-Batin.
Maj. Gen. Ahmad Mahdi Al-Qarni, spokesman of the Civil Defense, said that the guidelines have been spelt out in accordance with the weather forecast issued by the concerned authorities. “People and motorists should keep away from valleys and flood plains, and check the rising water level on the plains. In case of emergencies, they should call toll-free number 998.”
The Civil Defense Directorate in the Northern Border Region called on everyone to take precautions due to expected weather instability, and follow safety guidelines issued by the authorities.
The Civil Defense spokesman in the Northern Border Region, Lt. Col. Fahd Al-Asmari Al-Anzi, said the reports by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) indicate that the region will be affected by weather fluctuations accompanied by thunderstorms that will continue until evening.
He urged all citizens and residents to comply with the alerts and guidelines of the Civil Defense, and stay away from dangerous sites such as valleys and other low-lying areas.
In Asir, Col. Mohammad Rahim of the Civil Defense said that his field team is deployed round the clock in the region to avert damages due to rains. He said motorists should take extra care while driving and avoid areas that are likely to inundate with rainwater.
Baha Gov. Prince Mishari bin Saud has instructed the concerned officials to deploy field teams to help motorists in case of bad weather.
Baha Civil Defense spokesman Col. Jamaan Al-Ghamdi said that there were torrential rains and thunderstorms in the region as predicted by the PME. He related that there were 3,349 distress calls from the public calling for assistance during the rains. A number of people were rescued from waterlogged areas, he added.
The official spokesman of the Directorate of Civil Defense in Jazan, Yahya Al-Qahtani, advised people to be conscious of the probable bad weather and take maximum precautions against becoming victims of the sudden floods caused by rains. He told people to stay indoors during inclement weather.
Source; Arab News