| Disaster Risk Management squares up for winter | <span><p>The Disaster Management Advisory Forum meets quarterly, to discuss, assess, and plan for potential risks to public safety. </p><p>A standing item is an overview from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on prevailing and predicted weather patterns, which helps to guide operational plans and contingencies.</p><p>At present, the outlook for winter points to below normal rainfall, and slightly higher average temperatures; however, SAWS has indicated that it cannot rule out the possibility of severe weather events.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DRMC%20officials%20on%20a%20walkabout%20through%20Langa800.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>'There is no denying that Cape Town's weather patterns have changed. A few years ago, we were staring down the barrel of a drought. In recent times, there's been an increase in extreme weather warnings and episodes, like the lightning in April that resulted in numerous fires, damaging winds that accelerate the spread of fires, but also down roofs, trees and power lines, and even ocean surges, like the one last September that affected Gordon's Bay and surrounds.</p><p> </p><p>'The City does a lot of proactive work around disaster mitigation, but these weather events make planning so much trickier, because how do you possibly mitigate the impact of level six damaging winds, for example? DRM's slogan is that disaster risk management is everybody's business, and so as we head into our winter period, I call on the public to take this to heart, and do their bit to safeguard their properties, and their communities,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/A%20door%20to%20door%20flood%20education%20and%20awareness%20initiative%20in%20Langa.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The Disaster Risk Management Centre:</p><ul><li>coordinates the City's efforts through the Winter Readiness Task Team</li><li>identifies high risk informal areas in partnership with the Informal Settlements Management Branch</li><li>Conducts education and awareness outreach activities in these areas, including pamphlet drops, loud-hailing, community based risk assessments and erecting signage in high-risk areas</li><li>Coordinates relief efforts where needed<br><br>Between July 2023 and March 2024, the DRMC recorded 10 299 incidents during severe weather episodes, affecting 21 419 persons.<br></li></ul>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/a%20home%20that%20has%20been%20raised%20higher%20than%20ground%20level.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><p>Residents are reminded that they too can do their bit to help reduce risks to their properties by:</p><ul><li>Clearing out drainage systems</li><li>Raising the floor level of a structure so that it is higher than the natural ground level</li><li>Raise furniture on bricks to clear from the floor to limit water damage </li><li>Make sandbags </li><li>Dig trenches around the house to divert water away from the house </li><li>Report blocked drains, intakes and illegal dumping – illegal dumping in the stormwater canals and sewers make flooding worse </li><li>Waterproof roofs, clear gutters and remove dead tree branches<br><br> <br>The City has numerous channels where service disruptions can be reported, including the Corporate Contact Centre on 0860 103 089, or online at <a href="https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html" target="_blank">https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html</a><br><br> <br>For emergencies, residents can contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone<br><br> <br><br><strong>End</strong></li></ul><p><br></p> | 2024-05-22T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#2ed2e328-76fa-47cf-96c1-0c869efb561b;L0|#02ed2e328-76fa-47cf-96c1-0c869efb561b|Disaster Risk Management;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#81215d15-3400-4d23-aa99-fff3dbe187bf;L0|#081215d15-3400-4d23-aa99-fff3dbe187bf|Winter readiness | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
