Governorates ‘ready’ for inclement weather — officials

AMMAN — Officials from across the Kingdom on Sunday stressed their preparedness for the wet spell forecast over the next few days and for the winter season, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Officials from the Irbid, Maan, Zarqa, Mafraq, Madaba, Jerash, Balqa, Karak, Tafileh, Aqaba and Ajloun governorates said municipality staff and equipment are ready to face sudden changes in weather conditions in coordination with the concerned authorities.

Some of the officials said they prepared machinery to pump out water, secured additional amounts of fuel to power them, and cleaned rainwater drainage systems, especially in areas where it typically accumulates.

The Kingdom is expected to be affected by unstable weather conditions on Monday with cloudy skies and a chance of heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, in addition to hail in some areas, the Jordan Meteorological Department said on Sunday. 

Heavy rain is expected to result in floods in valleys and low-lying areas, the department said. 

Zaatari Refugee Camp Director Col. Abdul Rahman Omoush said the administration, support agencies and the concerned authorities are ready to deal with the expected depression and any emergencies at the camp, some 90km northeast of Amman.

He said the camp’s administration, in cooperation with UNHCR and 47 other UN and humanitarian organisations, worked to enhance means to deal with accumulating rainwater as well as to sustain power and medical services.

Mafraq Mayor Ahmad Hawamdeh said the public can contact the emergency room at 026235115, the governorate’s operation room at 026231702 or the Civil Defence Department (CDD) at 911, in case of emergency.

Karak CDD Director Col. Abdul Hadi Sarayreh said there are 24 CDD centres spread around the governorate, some 140km south of Amman, ready to deal with any emergency, urging cooperation among all the centres.

Heavy rain two weeks ago caused flash floods in Amman that killed four people, including two children, and damaged public and private property.