Meanwhile in the Desert Kingdom: Saudi Arabia on high alert following snowstorms

Snow in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Health and security officials in Tabuk have been on full alert because of snowstorms in the northwestern part of the Kingdom over the past two days. The affected areas are AlDhaher Alakan Abu AlHanshan Attabaq Tinenar Wadi AlAsmar AlLawz Mountain and AlAniq.

The Saudi Red Crescent has reinforced its teams with extra officials to take care of the large numbers of people who are enjoying the snow. The Civil Defense has issued early warnings to alert people to take care and follow safety measures in such extreme weather conditions.

Khaled AlEnaizi spokesman of the Saudi Red Crescent in Tabuk said 11 teams had been assigned to parks and locations of heavy snowfalls where citizens and residents are out around the clock.

Auda AlAtawi spokesman for the health affairs in Tabuk said they were ready with rescue teams to deal with current weather conditions according to directions from the Civil Defense. He said four mobile units were ready to offer field support at any location.

He said the authorities are coordinating with the Civil Defense and the Red Crescent through the crisis and emergency center which is affiliated with the Health Ministry. Medical support is readily available if needed.

The General Traffic Directorate in Tabuk prepared field teams under the leadership of a number of officers in Alakan AlZaita and the AlLawz Mountain according to Gen. Mohammad AlBugami the traffic director. He said his directorate had implemented a traffic plan to deal with the rain and snowfall and the resulting traffic congestion.

He said the plan included assigning a number of officers and individuals and dividing them into groups to carry out traffic security tasks around the clock. He said that all necessary procedures to guarantee traffic safety for people in these areas are being taken.