Jerash, Jan. 18 (Petra) - Jerash Governor Malek Khreisat on Saturday discussed with heads of municipalities, government departments, security agencies, and the Traffic Department the level of institutional readiness and preparedness for winter low-pressure weather systems.

Khreisat stressed the importance of sustained coordination and integration among all official bodies to enhance preparedness and ensure the protection of citizens and property. He praised the role and efforts of municipalities, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Public Security Directorate (PSD), and Civil Defense teams during previous weather systems.

He underscored that public safety is a top priority for all official institutions, calling for a high level of readiness, teamwork, and strengthened advance coordination among all departments to ensure rapid response and minimize the impact of any emergency weather conditions.

Khreisat also highlighted the need for continuous field monitoring, addressing observations promptly and not tolerating any shortcomings that could affect public safety. He urged intensified efforts in the coming period and raising preparedness levels, particularly in areas prone to water accumulation and soil erosion.

For his part, Chairman of the Greater Jerash Municipality Committee Mohammad Bani Yaseen presented a detailed overview of the municipality’s winter preparedness, noting that it had implemented a well-studied plan that included preventive measures taken before the start of the season and effective on-the-ground management during varying weather conditions.

He said the advance preparations contributed to the absence of any incidents affecting lives or public and private property, reflecting the effectiveness of prior planning and rapid response.

Bani Yaseen explained that since the beginning of the season, the emergency operations room has dealt with hundreds of reports, including rising water levels, soil erosion, water pooling in front of homes, and power line outages, in addition to addressing road closures caused by collapses linked to private excavation works, with necessary corrective measures taken.

He added that a number of nomadic families were relocated from the Riyashi area to ensure their safety, hundreds of sandbags were prepared and distributed across various areas, and additional machinery was rented to be on standby when needed.

During the meeting, participants agreed to form a joint committee comprising representatives of the relevant official departments and agencies to conduct field monitoring of hotspots and areas prone to rainwater accumulation and to take preventive measures on an ongoing basis.

//Petra// AF