Buildings and infrastructure in Hortiatis are supplied with bags of saltin a first preparedness move against the backdrop of the new wave of bad weather “Alexis”, which from Saturday evening is estimated to “dress” the mountainous region of Thessaloniki in white.

The “bells” of the meteorologists for snow and storms-express next weekend have put the competent services on alert, both in the Municipality of Pylaia – Hortiatis, as well as in the central Municipality. The business plan in Hortiatis includes 12 special machines and 250 tons of salt.

Since Thursday, the relevant crews, in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Cleanliness, Vivian Lioliou, have been distributing bags of salt to homes, schools and churches, which is expected to continue today and also on Saturday, in an effort to “fortify” the municipality. From Saturday afternoon the staff at the Municipal Unit of Hortiatis will be on alert, with the forecast “models” showing snowfall from the same evening and towards the dawn of Sunday.

It took place on Thursday the meeting of the Coordinating Body in the Region of Central Macedonia, presence of the Fire Police, the Greek Police, the Coast Guard and the competent bodies. According to the Head of the Directorate of Civil Protection of the Region of Central Macedonia, Babis Stergiadis, a total of 5,000 tons of salt and over 100 snowplows are ready – if necessary – to assist operationally in dealing with the phenomenon. “Maybe in the first year the coming weather will not appear to be a particular problem – except for snowfall in the mountains – but we are fully prepared”, he said characteristically.

According to the forecast models trusted by the Region of Central Macedonia, the phenomenon will last until Sunday afternoon, with another key feature being bitter cold and a sharp drop in temperature.

The central Municipality is also on alert

The Municipality of Thessaloniki has 32 snow removal machines and more than 20 project machines, which have the ability to move bulky items from the asphalt. In the center of the city, however, mainly rainfall is expected, with the mandated municipal councilor of Civil Protection, Vassilis Moysidis stating to ThessToday.gr that the municipality is fully prepared to face the coming wave of bad weather. The main goal, as he explains, is to keep the wells clean. “The wells must remain clean in order to absorb the water that will come down from Sheikh Sou or the outskirts – Ano Poli, Triandria, Evangelistria. “Red” spots are also the National Defence, Democracy Square -Vardaris- and Lagadas. “If we find that there is entrained material, we have to keep the wells open to channel the bulk of the water,” he noted.