Dams, canals and reservoirs full to
capacity – residents urged to exercise caution. Read more
below:
A flood alert has been issued for
areas in the Cape Metropolitan area as dams, canals and reservoirs are filled to
capacity across the Western Cape as a result of persistent heavy
rains.
The Department of Water Affairs
advised all disaster management authorities across the Western Cape that the
increasing rainfall is resulting in dams overflowing, affecting mostly low-lying
areas. The greater part of the Cape Flats that is located in low-lying and
flood-plain areas is already saturated due to persistent rainfall during the
past month.
Heavy rains in the catchment areas
and inflows into the river systems and watercourses could result in overflowing
and possible localised flooding.
There is also a possibility that
areas and farming communities that are located next to watercourses, rivers, or
in close proximity to dams may be affected in Cape Town as indicated
below:
· Eerste River system (residential and
agricultural areas in the flood plains)
· The Lourens River at Somerset-West
(low-lying residential areas)
· Cape Flats informal
settlements
· Diep River flowing from the
Swartland to Cape Town
Residents living within the 1:100
year flood lines especially are advised to be on alert.
A special flood advisory has been
issued to subsistence and emerging farmers along these areas, urging them to
take the necessary action to protect crops and livestock.
The City deployed its disaster
response teams and engineering crews to assess the levels of the water across
the Cape Town to ensure that the necessary action can be taken to safeguard life
and property.
The City is geared to initiate the
necessary pro-active measures to discharge water from the catchment areas to
counter flood damage.
Members of the public should inspect
the drainage systems on their properties and ensure that no rainwater is
entering their sewers. It must be noted that this is prohibited in terms of the
City’s by-laws as it contributes to the risk of overflowing sewers.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management
Centre will keep residents informed of developments through the
media.
Useful contact
numbers:
· Flooding, blocked
drains and service disruptions: Call 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31373.
· Electricity
outages/disruptions: Call 0860 103 089 or SMS to 31220.
· Road Closures: Call
the City’s Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on
roadways and deviations.
· Weather Reports:
listen to alerts on
the radio and television; visit www.weathersa.co.za ; or call the Cape Town Weather Office on Tel:
021 934 0749/0831 or the weatherline on 083 123 0500.
· Emergencies:
Call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a
cellphone. The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive.
The
City’s disaster response teams are in close contact with the South African
Weather Service in order to keep a watchful eye on the inclement weather
conditions.
For further
information regarding storms, gale-force winds, snowfall, landslides, mudslides
and rockfalls as well as precautionary measures to prevent damage, please visit
the Disaster Risk Management Centre’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/disaster.
End
Issued by:
Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape
Town
