By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Majed Abul Ula, the head of the Saudi Affairs Department at the Kingdom’s Consulate in Houston, has revealed that 3,000 Saudi citizens present in the State of Florida have been evacuated ahead of the Hurricane Dorian, which could likely barrel into Florida.

As a precautionary measure, the Consulate relocated the Saudi students with their families, in addition to several patients and tourists, to safer places.

He said that Hurricane Dorian has reached several states, but it is Florida State that has borne the brunt of the hurricane. He added that the Consulate has formed an Emergency Committee with follow up by the ambassador to evacuate Saudis from harm in the hurricane-stricken areas in Florida to the nearest safe areas, to ensure their safety.

Abul Ula added that the Emergency Committee has received calls from all Saudis. The calls were not restricted to students only.

After confirming their evacuation from the unsafe areas, preparations are made to transport them to safer areas and measures are taken to provide them accommodation and other facilities until the natural disaster wanes. Then they will facilitate the return of evacuated Saudis to their cities.

He stressed that there are no statistics on Saudi properties damaged by the hurricane due to their relocation now in safe regions. Following their return, the losses will be assessed and how to deal with them.

The Saudi Consulate in Houston has confirmed the evacuation of Saudi citizens living in Bradford Neighborhood, who were unable to leave. They were transported to safer regions. He added that the evacuation process would continue until the safety of all the citizens is guaranteed.

The Kingdom’s embassy in Washington had issued a statement calling on Saudi citizens present in several US states to take precautions and keep away from the path of Hurricane Dorian.

In a press release, the Saudi Embassy in Washington said that it was following the developments in the wake of the hurricane and appealed to the citizens in the states of Florida, Georgia and South and North Carolina, to take precautions and keep away from the path of the hurricane.

The press release stressed to Saudi citizens to comply with the directives and instructions of the local authorities, and follow the safety guidelines and evacuation orders.

The embassy said that it was taking the necessary measures to help evacuate the citizens, in line with the announcements by the official authorities in the US.