MUSCAT: Since the issuance of the alerts by the relevant authorities, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), represented by the Directorate-General of Training and Operations began executing its operational plans for dealing with the tropical condition Shaheen putting all its departments and centres on standby to handle the emergency.
Prior to the tropical condition, the CDAA deployed its equipment in the areas that were expected to be the hardest hit by the storm. The authority had a clear plan for quick response and handling of all sorts of reports in coordination with the sub-committees for emergency management in the governorates.
Amidst the direct effect of the tropical condition, the CDAA dealt with 416 reports; the most serious among them were reports about stranded people inside vehicles in wadis. The authority rescued 544 people in the governorates affected by the tropical storm and handled fire, water rescue and ambulance cases in addition to other reports of humanitarian nature.
The CDAA continued its efforts after the end of the direct effects of the tropical condition and sent specialist teams and more equipment to North Al Batinah Governorate to ensure a speedy return to normal life.
The CDAA continued to respond to reports by providing support to various sectors. Due to the great scale of the damage caused by the tropical storm and the high number of reports from the wilayats of Al Khaboura and Al Suwaiq, the CDAA designated its field operations to its National Search and Rescue Team and set up an advanced field centre in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq to receive reports and direct the field teams to deal with the emergency cases.
The CDAA field teams have handled 1,925 reports since October 8 following the activation of the field centre. Those reports varied from opening of internal roads in residential quarters, removal of fallen trees on roads and houses, supplying drinking water in the affected areas, draining water, distribution of foods and essentials, cleaning houses and towing vehicles in cooperation with the civil, military and private entities.
