Paramedics and rescuers have been mobilizing around Israel and responding to calls as winter storm Byron hit the Holy Land for the second day in a row. The Times of Israel reports that 14 people were rescued from trapped cars, two young girls were injured by a falling tree at their school, and a 53-year-old man was found dead in his apartment with signs of hypothermia. At the same time, several clips posted online showed flood waters rising above cars and flowing into buildings.
The Israel Meteorological Service had issued a “red warning” for “significant precipitation” along the central and southern coastline and in the Shfela region, which was to be in effect for 24 hours, starting Wednesday at 10 p.m. It said an estimated 100-150 mm of rainfall was expected in the affected areas.
It also issued an “orange warning” for flooding in the coastal plains area of central and southern Israel as well as the Negev and Judean desert regions.
In the country’s north, the cold temperatures and severe precipitation led to heavy snowfall on Mount Hermon and surrounding peaks.
Israeli drainage infrastructure is struggling with the precipitation from the past two days. Hospitals and clinics have also been given warnings to make extra preparations to receive more patients.
The IDF has also gone into lockdown and limited activities due to the active storm. Training bases in the south were hit particularly hard. The safety guidelines by Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir included restrictions on outdoor training and limiting routine security operations. These guidelines are expected to last until Friday morning.
Winter storm Byron is an extreme case. But every year when winter arrives, thousands of Jews, especially the elderly with no heating, become vulnerable to the harsh elements when the temperature begins to drop. The Fellowship is proud to be able to provide warmth to those who need it in Israel and the former Soviet Union, thanks to our generous supporters.