Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, reviewed the preparations of several New Cities’ authorities for the winter season and efforts to raise readiness levels to deal with weather fluctuations and rainfall. The Housing Minister stressed the importance of making advance preparations for the winter season and the need for continuous field monitoring of utility systems and rainwater drainage networks.
She also emphasized verifying the technical readiness of equipment, water suction vehicles, and rapid-response units, while activating coordination among relevant departments and disaster and crisis committees to ensure a rapid response and immediate handling of any emergencies, while maintaining citizens’ safety, regular services, and traffic flow in the New Cities.
In this context, the Housing Minister received a report stating that in New Suez City, Eng. Asmaa Makhlouf, Head of the New Suez City Development Authority, and authority officials supervised the lineup of emergency equipment and vehicles to review their technical condition and ensure their readiness for immediate intervention.
The measures included reviewing the readiness of emergency teams and the Disaster and Crisis Committee and defining the roles of relevant entities under the emergency response plan. They also included monitoring the cleaning of sewer manholes, drainage networks, and rainwater inlets, reviewing road entrances and exits and locations that may be exposed to water accumulation, and ensuring the readiness of suction and rapid-response equipment.
Coordination will continue around the clock during periods of unstable weather conditions. The New Nubariya City Development Authority conducted a field drill to test the operating efficiency of rainwater chambers and inlets in Ebni Beitak District (A), following the completion of cleaning works and the removal of waste and sediment.
The drill aimed to verify the efficiency of the drainage system, its capacity to accommodate rainwater, and its ability to reduce water accumulation on streets and main roads. Eng. Mohamed Abdullah Youssef, Head of the Authority, confirmed the continuation of cleaning works and efforts to improve the efficiency of rainwater drainage chambers and inlets.
He also stressed the need to review the system’s components and respond quickly to any observations or locations requiring intervention, supporting the smooth movement of citizens and vehicles and maintaining the efficiency of utilities.
In New Minya City, Eng. Mohamed El-Azouni, Head of the New Minya City Development Authority, and authority officials inspected several sewage treatment stations to monitor their readiness for the winter season and their ability to handle expected loads. The tour included Station No. (3), where operation and maintenance works were reviewed.
Officials were directed to conduct regular cleaning of the wells, begin expansion works at the station, clean sewer manholes and rainwater drainage chambers, and continue maintenance works and efforts to improve the efficiency of the city’s stations and sewage system.
In New Alamein City, the city authority raised its level of preparedness to address potential weather fluctuations by lining up rapid-response equipment and vehicles designated to deal with heavy rainfall and water accumulation. The authority also reviewed the technical condition of vehicles, suction units, power generators, and operating teams, ensuring their readiness for immediate intervention.
Dr. Eng. Mohamed Khalafallah, Head of the New Alamein City Development Authority, and authority officials followed up on these measures. They emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination among departments and improving the efficiency of the emergency response system to maintain smooth traffic flow, protect citizens and property, and ensure the continued delivery of services efficiently.
Cleaning works for sewage networks and rainwater manholes are also continuing, alongside reviews of the drainage system. This is being carried out while ensuring that operations rooms are ready and activated around the clock to receive reports and respond immediately to any emergencies. Regular monitoring of equipment, networks, and operating teams will also continue.
In Sheikh Zayed City, Eng. Bassam Mohamed Fadl, Head of the Sheikh Zayed City Development Authority, and authority officials monitored the lineup of equipment and personnel and conducted a simulation of rapid response procedures to deal with heavy rainfall, water accumulation, and potential floods.
The preparations included ensuring the readiness of water drainage and suction vehicles, vehicles equipped with water cannons, vehicles designated to deal with floods, and emergency vehicles equipped with mobile pumps.
They also included loaders, excavators, and mobile pumps, along with reviewing regular maintenance works and operational efficiency to ensure that equipment can be quickly deployed to locations that may experience water accumulation.