The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has conducted a joint rainstorm simulation at the Authority's Emergency Control Center in Asset Affairs quarters, in cooperation with the National Command Centre from of the Ministry of Interior.

This exercise was part of Ashghal’s and concerned authorities’ preparations to confront emergency weather conditions and the dangers of rainwater accumulation in the country. The team responsible for emergency management, officials from the Roads Management Center, the Drainage Networks Operation and Maintenance Department in Ashghal, and other relevant teams participated in it. This was done in direct real-time coordination with the National Command Center.

From his part, H.E. Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Meer, President of the Public Works Authority Ashghal’s stated that organising this exercise aims to strengthen the work system and integration between the various security and civil entities in the country, responsible for managing the rainy season. It also assesses how to use the technical and logistical resources available to the participating entities is another aspect of the exercise. This is to guarantee the safety and protection of road users, through efficient coordination, operation and field integration, as well as mitigating these risks professionally.

To minimize possible damage, the participating teams reacted immediately by closing roads that could collect water and sending specialised teams to pump water out of tunnels and roads. The exercise also focused on coordinating between various agencies to inform the public about traffic closures caused by the event and guide them to alternative routes through messages broadcast on dynamic screens along the roads.

The exercise included presenting the mechanisms and the general timeline, discussing the phases, which include: the preparatory phase, the readiness phase, the notification phase, the resource deployment phase, the solution implementation phase, and the de-escalation phase, which includes documentation of work carried on and quality control checks on the completed work.

This simulation is part of the proactive plan implemented annually by Ashghal to prepare for the rainy season. The Drainage Networks Operation and Maintenance Department continues to conduct critical training for contractors and relevant staff on how to operate the monitoring system at the Emergency Control Center and prepare for anticipated scenarios prior to the rainy season, as is done every year.

Moreover, the Drainage Networks Operations and Maintenance Department conducts ongoing training sessions for both contractors and relevant staff on monitoring systems, including a dedicated Emergency Control Centre, and anticipated scenarios preceding each rainy season.