They were on standby at the weekend for possible floods after storm weather warnings for the Garden Route had been sent out. "We in the George area were fortunate. Although a lot of rain fell at the weekend, it was thankfully spread out evenly," said Otto.
Floods occurred in the Suurbraak and Slangrivier areas near Riversdal and assistance was rendered there, as well as to eight families in the Herbertsdale area who were cut off after the newly built Langtou River bridge was damaged. "Food parcels, water and other basics had to be flown in per helicopter," said Otto.
He complimented the George Municipality for properly maintaining the town's storm water drainage system. "We informed them early about the storm forecast and they acted proactively to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall."
According to Koot Campher, of the George Weather Office, a total of 87,4mm was measured at Witfontein from last week Wednesday till Monday 18 November. The total for November up until the 18th was 110,4mm. This is excellent follow-up rainfall after the 178,4mm that was measured in October. At Tierkop, the total for the weekend was 100mm. Stephan Gericke, farmer and owner of Tikketai, the vegetable packaging company at Pacaltsdorp, said farmers are smiling. "As far as I have heard, everyone is excited about the summer. For vegetable farmers, the rain is a huge blessing. The dams are full and we can enter summer with confidence. There was some damage to roads, but it is not serious."
The Weather Office has predicted clear skies for the weekend.
* Die boere glimlag en Gerhard Otto, hoof van Eden Rampbestuur, sit verlig terug nadat geen vloedskade die naweek voorgekom het, ten spyte van vloedwaarskuwings wat verlede week uitgereik is nie. 'n Totaal van 87,4 mm is sedert verlede Woensdag tot Maandag 18 November by Witfontein gemeet.
ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
