In case you reside in Dubai, had been you woken as much as the sound of your telephone blaring out like a police siren final Monday morning?
If, like me, this roused you from a deep slumber, did you could have completely no concept what was occurring? Have been we at struggle? Had Iran launched a nuke?
All these ideas ran by way of my head, my pulse rising, earlier than the voice of motive chimed in – it’s certainly simply my alarm sounding additional … erm … additional alarming.
Because it turned out, not one of the above utilized. It was the Dubai Police issuing a public security alert – a loud warning tone designed to forewarn residents and guests within the UAE about an imminent emergency.
My telephone was additionally vibrating on my bedside desk like a maniacal insect.
I picked it up within the half-dark, nearly dropping it, and seemed on the display.
There was a message written in Arabic and English.
“The town of Dubai is uncovered to fluctuations in climate situations,” it learn. In different phrases, rain within the UAE.
Members of the general public had been suggested to “avoid seashores, keep away from areas of valleys, torrent flows, and low locations.”
Placing all notions of attempting to get again to sleep apart as my coronary heart charge subsided, I obtained up and carried on with my day – working at house as the federal government had suggested as a result of moist climate. The faculties that weren’t on half-term break proceeded with on-line studying.
Some folks obtained the Nationwide Early Warning System alert as much as 4 occasions.
There was certainly heavy rain, thunder and lightning throughout elements of the UAE, and I used to be glad to have the ability to keep house (rain within the UAE is sort of a snow day within the UK), but it surely’s humorous how a downpour on this nation might be so wild – and will get handled like a cyclone, though it isn’t.