Jeddah Municipality: Comprehensive emergency plan to deal with Jeddah rains and the red alert
The Jeddah Municipality confirmed that all alerts issued by the National Center for Meteorology regarding rainfall are being treated with the utmost seriousness and attention, regardless of the alert level or color. The municipality explained that its operational plans rely on a flexible response that adapts to weather developments, supported by a wide field deployment to ensure the safety of residents and the smooth flow of traffic.
Historical context and ongoing infrastructure development
These intensive efforts by the Jeddah Municipality are based on accumulated experience and lessons learned from previous rainy seasons in the governorate. Jeddah, by virtue of its coastal location and topography, is a city that requires specialized engineering and operational solutions for stormwater and flood drainage. While recent years have witnessed massive projects to develop drainage networks and dams, operational readiness remains the crucial element in crisis management, and this is what the municipality is currently focusing on to ensure the effectiveness of the existing infrastructure.
The mechanism for dealing with a "red alert"
Regarding the handling of severe rainfall events classified as "red alert," Faisal Aiban, Director of the Crisis and Disaster Center at the Jeddah Municipality, revealed a strict protocol for rapid intervention. This protocol involves mobilizing all available human and mechanical resources and deploying them to support centers no later than 120 minutes before the expected rainfall. Preparations intensify to reinforce critical locations, such as tunnels, hospitals, and main roads, with the necessary equipment 60 minutes before the rain begins, ensuring immediate intervention and preventing water accumulation.
Support and field deployment centers
The municipality's plan relies on 15 strategically distributed support centers to cover all areas of the governorate, facilitating rapid access to critical locations. These centers serve as launch points for field teams and equipment, with a workforce of 7,160 personnel supported by 1,621 pieces of diverse equipment and machinery, including water pumps, mechanical sweepers, and cleaning equipment. This force covers 11 sub-municipalities.
Hypotheses and experiments to improve efficiency
The municipality left nothing to chance, conducting a series of field and desk simulations—approximately seven comprehensive scenarios—before the rainy season. These exercises, involving the Crisis and Disaster Management Center and other relevant authorities, aim to identify any potential operational gaps, enhance coordination among different agencies, and improve decision-making speed. Risk maps are also updated regularly based on urban development changes and observations from previous seasons.
The importance of institutional integration
The vital role of coordination between the Jeddah Municipality and the National Center for Meteorology is highlighted as a cornerstone of the early warning system. This integration allows service providers ample time to prepare and respond, positively impacting the protection of lives and property. The Municipality emphasizes that work does not cease when the rain stops; field teams continue to pump out remaining water, clean streets of dirt and debris, and prepare performance evaluation reports to ensure continuous improvement in managing future rainfall events.
