Cold, wet weather alert for the Cape: safety checklist in case of floods
Authorities have shared a winter safety checklist on how to respond to flooding as the Western and Northern Cape brace for several days of cold and wet weather.
'Very cold conditions with daytime temperatures of 10°C and below are expected in places over the interior of the Western Cape and the Namakwa district {Northern Cape] from Wednesday to Saturday,' the SA Weather Service (Saws) said on Wednesday.
'The provincial disaster management centre co-ordinates and supports the district disaster centres and each local municipality in the province knows what is expected during the winter months to keep people safe,' said Western Cape local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
'Several days of cold and wet weather is predicted for the remainder of this week as well as next week and our disaster and emergency services will monitor this closely.'
Bredell cited the recent drowning of a young woman while trying to cross a low-level water bridge in Slanghoek near Rawsonville, saying it was important to share safety precautions for inclement weather.
The provincial disaster management centre said residents should prepare a household emergency plan on what to do in case of a flood and assemble a 'grab-and-go kit' containing: important documents such as IDs, passports, birth certificates, policies and clinic cards;
cellphone recharger;
essential medication and copies of prescriptions;
credit cards and money;
first aid kit; and
make sure water can drain away from homes and check roofs for leaks.
During heavy rain: pay attention to warnings. Listen to the radio or check reputable social media such as Saws or municipality for updates;
store a supply of drinking water;
if you live in a flood-prone area or are camping in a low-lying area, get to higher ground immediately;
if told to evacuate by authorities, do so immediately. Lock your home when you leave. If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances;
avoid areas, roads and passes that are subject to sudden flooding;
avoid damaged live electrical infrastructure;
do not attempt to walk or drive over a flooded road. Even 15cm of fast-moving floodwater can knock you off your feet and a depth of two feet is enough to float a car. Never try to walk, swim or drive through swift running water; and
avoid contact with flood water as it can be mixed with sewerage, oil, fuel or dangerous chemicals. Prevent children from playing in and near flood water.
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The South African
7 hours ago
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Western Cape prepares for winter as storms approach
The Western Cape government has activated its disaster readiness plans as winter cold and wet conditions are forecast to persist into next week. Anton Bredell, the MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, said provincial services are on high alert. 'Our disaster and emergency services are ready to respond swiftly,' Bredell confirmed. 'The Provincial Disaster Management Centre coordinates and supports the district disaster centres, and each local municipality in the province knows what is expected during the coming winter months to keep people safe.' The province's preparation comes amid weather warnings of increased flood risks in vulnerable areas. Following a tragic drowning at a low-level bridge in Slanghoek, officials have reiterated safety precautions. Bredell urged residents to stay informed and prepare for winter emergencies. 'We appeal to the public not to litter or dump in stormwater drains, as this will stop the water from draining away and cause even more flooding,' he said. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre also advised households to prepare emergency kits. A 'grab-and-go' kit should include identification documents, essential medicines, phone chargers, cash, and a first aid kit. 'Assess where you live, as your home may flood if you are near a river or if there is poor drainage,' the centre said. Authorities have emphasised the importance of heeding weather warnings from credible sources such as the South African Weather Service or local municipalities. Residents should evacuate early in flood-prone or low-lying areas and avoid driving or walking through floodwaters. 'Just 15 cm of fast-moving water can knock you down, and a depth of two feet can float a car,' the department warned. Contact with floodwater should also be avoided due to contamination of sewage, fuel, or chemicals. Bredell stressed the role of public cooperation: 'These men and women are trained to keep us safe, and they risk their own lives to do this. We can reduce these risks by giving our full cooperation and sharing a mindset of rather safe than sorry.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Cold, wet weather alert for the Cape: safety checklist in case of floods
Authorities have shared a winter safety checklist on how to respond to flooding as the Western and Northern Cape brace for several days of cold and wet weather. 'Very cold conditions with daytime temperatures of 10°C and below are expected in places over the interior of the Western Cape and the Namakwa district {Northern Cape] from Wednesday to Saturday,' the SA Weather Service (Saws) said on Wednesday. 'The provincial disaster management centre co-ordinates and supports the district disaster centres and each local municipality in the province knows what is expected during the winter months to keep people safe,' said Western Cape local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell. 'Several days of cold and wet weather is predicted for the remainder of this week as well as next week and our disaster and emergency services will monitor this closely.' Bredell cited the recent drowning of a young woman while trying to cross a low-level water bridge in Slanghoek near Rawsonville, saying it was important to share safety precautions for inclement weather. The provincial disaster management centre said residents should prepare a household emergency plan on what to do in case of a flood and assemble a 'grab-and-go kit' containing: important documents such as IDs, passports, birth certificates, policies and clinic cards; cellphone recharger; essential medication and copies of prescriptions; credit cards and money; first aid kit; and make sure water can drain away from homes and check roofs for leaks. During heavy rain: pay attention to warnings. Listen to the radio or check reputable social media such as Saws or municipality for updates; store a supply of drinking water; if you live in a flood-prone area or are camping in a low-lying area, get to higher ground immediately; if told to evacuate by authorities, do so immediately. Lock your home when you leave. If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances; avoid areas, roads and passes that are subject to sudden flooding; avoid damaged live electrical infrastructure; do not attempt to walk or drive over a flooded road. Even 15cm of fast-moving floodwater can knock you off your feet and a depth of two feet is enough to float a car. Never try to walk, swim or drive through swift running water; and avoid contact with flood water as it can be mixed with sewerage, oil, fuel or dangerous chemicals. Prevent children from playing in and near flood water. TimesLIVE
The Herald
6 days ago
- The Herald
Correct call makes for a winter-wonderland experience in Nieu Bethesda
We had already planned and booked our midwinter break for the end of July, in the hope of experiencing some decent snow, when Facebook was suddenly abuzz with forecasts of 30cm of snow. Mrs Guru gave me that puppy dog look and subtly suggested a night or two in Nieu Bethesda, one of her favourite small towns. Besides, she said, there was still so much she wanted to see in Nieu Bethesda, and the people were so friendly there. As all husbands know, a happy wife is a happy life, so I was not going to upset her and gave her the go-ahead to book, after consulting with an ex-colleague on his views as to the chances of snow. We left home on Sunday morning, warm clothes packed, a flask of coffee and some snacks for the road. I don't know why I always get so hungry on road trips. Heading north towards Graaff-Reinet, we saw some amazing cumulus-type clouds, which just had cold heavy air written all over them. I took this as a sure sign of moisture and cold, the main ingredients needed for snow. After relating this to Mrs Guru, she asked if I was trying to convince myself or her that the models were right. At that stage, I was not overly concerned, as seeing those beautiful cloud formations made the trip worthwhile, even if we did not see any snow. Stopping every 10 minutes to take photos, turned a three-hour trip into an almost five-hour trip. After a nice cosy supper and a few glasses of wine, it was off to bed to dream about waking up to a winter wonderland. During the night, we heard heavy rain and on our previous visit, a long-time resident and farmer told me that it does not snow when it rains in that area. Disappointment started to set in. The next morning, I was woken up by a very excited Mrs Guru shouting, 'It's snowing, come look.' Sure enough, the snow was falling but was melting as it hit the ground. It did, however, settle on our vehicle and the surrounding plants. Off to the local Village Inn and after a hearty breakfast, the owner told us that the snow was laying thick on her father's farm, just outside town. We did not delay and in 4x4 mode it was on the road, taking it extremely slowly. The further we went, the heavier the snowfall became, turning the countryside into the winter wonderland we had hoped to experience. We were so excited we were speechless. Once again stopping every few metres to take reels and reels of photos. When we got to the farm, we did not venture further up the mountain as it did not look too safe. There was no way I was going to get stuck in the middle of nowhere in those temperatures. Besides, we only had two litres of Old Brown Sherry in the car, and we would not survive the cold on that. So, we took the 8km trek back to the village and encountered a bunch of 'Crazy Daisies' (as I christened them) along the way en route to the farm/guest house. They were part of a group on the 100km Nieu-Bethesda Camino, walking about 23km a day. That is gruelling by any standard, but in the snow, well either very brave or crazy comes to my mind. I take my hat off to them. Then approaching the village, we noted that the snow on the side of the road started to get slushy as it was starting to melt. An hour later, looking back to the once snow-covered mountains around the village, there was hardly any sign of significant snow. While on our jaunt I was able to build a snow angle (snowman) and get to pelt Mrs Guru with a grapefruit-sized snowball. We were like children. Another tick off our proverbial bucket list. We have been lucky to have experienced snow, our recent trip to Founders Lodge with an awesome two game drives and enjoying fish and chips on the beach at Paternoster. All in the space of just more than a year. My advice to anyone who wants to have a snow experience is that you must be there before the snow begins. Most of these events only last a few hours at best, so if you want to travel after the snow has fallen, it will be too late. It's like fishing or playing Lotto. You cannot catch a fish without a line in the water or win the Lotto without a ticket. Watch the forecast and then take the chance. We were unlucky two years ago, but this time around it was well worth it. This week in history: 1965 Heavy stock losses in the Cradock and Maclear regions. Dam Levels 69% slightly down from previous weeks 69.46%. Impofu down to 51.93% Weather Safety Tips: Once again, we read about another vehicle washed away on a low water bridge resulting in numerous fatalities. Avoid low water bridges were there is fast running water in times of flooding.
