24 August 2016
JEDDAH: The Civil Defense Council recently issued a number of decisions impelling the Economic Cities Authority (ECA) to execute strategic water projects in the economic cities for use for more than 60 days.

It also stated that all economic cities should be able to maintain the right water pressure in the event of a fire, and according to Civil Defense standards. This would entail developing strategic tanks for the purpose of firefighting, and specifying safe places in all of these cities to be used in case of disaster.

It also called for strategic energy reserves and all dynamic and important amenities, under the ECA, and establishment of lanes for emergency purposes on principal roads, to guarantee speed of movement for emergency teams. It said there should be "exit roads" every five kilometers as windows for emergency vehicles. Special defense emergency teams should be established in all economic cities according to the special regulations issued by the Civil Defense Council.

These economic cities will hold studies to collect all data to identify the nature of the land and analyze soil to write up the nature of the terrain for establishments, whether residential, industrial or commercial, and to look into areas that may potentially by subjected to disasters and risks including torrential rains, floods, ground landings, earthquakes and volcanoes.

In these studies, they will be helped by aerial photographs and satellite images, and will establish rules and regulations to ensure coordination with the General Directorate of Civil Defense and other relevant bodies. Civil Defense is also impelling economic cities to use modern techniques, "smart systems," in the administration and ease of emergency teams.

In addition, a comprehensive warning system will be established to warn people and workers in all locations during emergencies.

© Arab News 2016