According to the forecasts held by the Jerusalem Municipality, from next Wednesday from noon until next Thursday in the early morning, stormy weather is expected in the capital, accompanied by strong winds (up to 70 km / h), low temperatures around 0 degrees and precipitation. Wednesday afternoon expected Light snow will fall on the ground at a height of 5 cm in the low places and up to 15 cm in the high places in the city. On Thursday morning, the snow is expected to thaw.
The municipal emergency headquarters has completed its deployment. The Chamal of the Municipality, headed by the Mayor, Moshe Leon, will start operating on Wednesday, January 26, 22 at 08:00 until Thursday afternoon, and according to developments. In addition, the regional and district headquarters will be opened, crews will be activated to deal with hazards, salt sprinklers will move on the main arteries with about 150 tons of salt at their disposal, and about 200 snowmobiles will be operated throughout the city and 8 spoons for snow removal along the light rail route. Over the next two days, situation assessments will be carried out, headed by the mayor, Moshe Leon, and the director general of the municipality, Itzik Larry, and the activities of the entire system will be coordinated.
The Education Administration will send a representative to each district in the city in order to update and guide the educational institutions, among other things, regarding the closing hours and opening of the institutions. In addition, pruning and crane teams will be activated to deal with hazards as needed. The Jerusalem Municipality will close. Apparently, the testing and vaccination complexes from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon, and depending on the assessments of the situation.
The Jerusalem Municipality will provide equipment for the district headquarters and community administrations and is prepared to evacuate populations if necessary to designated absorption facilities. The 106 hotline will be reinforced with hotlines in all languages, for the purpose of responding to inquiries and handling notifications of hazards.
The Welfare Department will provide assistance to underprivileged families and the elderly without a family background, and most of them have even been provided with stoves, blankets and other winter equipment at the beginning of the winter. Social workers are in continuous contact with anyone who needs assistance. Notices have been sent to all building trustees who will show increased vigilance for the plight of individuals and people at risk. Also, 4/4 armored vehicles are armored to rescue people if necessary. The street patrols of the emergency crews to locate the street children have been intensified, and as part of them they are offered to vacate accommodation in pre-arranged places, to have a hot meal and a shower. For those who refuse to vacate, offer hot drinks, warm clothing and blankets. From Wednesday morning until Thursday morning, the Welfare Department operates a staff staffed by teams of social workers from the west and east of the city, who are ready to respond.
The Jerusalem Municipality works in coordination and cooperation with all emergency services, with the Electric Company and the Gihon Corporation, whose representatives will be in the municipality’s office, and will handle any malfunction or hazard.
Due to the expected winter weather, the municipality recommends that residents return to their homes before the snow and avoid leaving, except in emergencies, as well as avoid actions that pose a safety hazard and maintain extreme vigilance and caution when driving and walking on the road. It is recommended to check the integrity of the heating systems and especially those that require ventilation. It is recommended to open the hot water tap slightly to prevent water from freezing in the pipes, which causes them to crack.
The municipality calls on residents to make sure that there is waterproofing in roofs and openings, including windows and shutters, and to perform cleaning and opening of water drainage chambers in yards and gutters on roofs. The municipality recommends that it be preserved and avoided from staying under sheds, pergolas, barracks or temporary structures, for fear of collapsing, and it is also recommended to fix or tie objects that could fly and pose a hazard.
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon: “Jerusalem, our capital, the most beautiful city in the world and especially when it is white. We missed the snow, and we hope it will pile up this time. The Jerusalem Municipality is prepared to deal with the expected winter weather in all aspects. The emergency headquarters and departments in the municipality have been prepared and briefed on the employees, and in addition situation assessments are held at all times, in order to refine the tasks, ensure readiness and competence and operate the forces well. The Jerusalem Municipality is ready for any scenario in order to provide a professional and fast service. I call on all visitors to come and experience and enjoy the Jerusalem snow, when it arrives, and to drive carefully and safely. “