Storm puts City winter readiness to the test

11 June 2020

The City of Cape Town's winter preparedness was put to the test as numerous incidents of flooding and storm damage were reported overnight. The first storm signalling the arrival of winter caused power outages, uprooted trees flooded roads.

'The City's Winter Readiness Plan and the work that goes into mitigating the impact of severe weather is a massive undertaking which involves a number of our directorates. The wet weather also brings with it an inevitable rise in the number of sewerage and stormwater system blockages and overflows due to illegal dumping.

'Illegal dumping into stormwater channels, sewers and canals comes at a massive cost not only because it increases the risk of flooding when it rains, but also because it requires resources and funding to clean, which could have been spent on other services. All our planning is not as effective without the assistance of our residents who have to help us keep these waterways clear,' said the City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.

'Winter readiness is the responsibility of the City and residents. The rain and cold is set to continue until the weekend and departments are working around the clock to ensure flooding is minimised. It is the start of the season and we need to work together to ensure we do all we can to mitigate the impact of the winter season,' added Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Informal settlements affected due to heavy rainfall overnight were Overcome Heights, Phola Park, Goliath Estate, Langa, Masiphumulele, Khayelitsha and Philippi, while trees were uprooted across the City in areas such as Durbanville, Ravensmead, Atlantis, Eversdal and Somerset West.

Power outages were also experienced in Philippi, Pelican Heights, Samora Machel, Strand and Nyanga and a number of roads were flooded. All these are being attended to by the various departments.

The City's Public Emergency Communication Centre took just more than 1 000 calls with 367 calls taken overnight and 713 calls answered during the day. Just under 60 % of calls were flood related, equally spread between informal and formal housing, while 40% were storm related calls.

The Winter Readiness Plan includes:

• Identifying at-risk informal settlements and moving residents to higher ground or implementing flood-mitigation measures
• Ongoing education and awareness programmes around flood and fire awareness which includes practical tips on how to raise floor levels, divert flood waters and reduce the health hazards associated with stagnant water
• Cleaning critical stormwater infrastructure in high flood-risk areas and removing invasive aquatic and terrestrial plants along key river corridors
• Proactive pruning/maintenance of trees to minimise the risk of falling branches and debris
• Service level agreement with the South African Social Service Agency to provide humanitarian aid to residents in distress and discomfort as a result of flooding and storm damage
• Funding to create additional temporary capacity at qualifying shelters to accommodate street people

Residents can reduce the risk to their properties by ensuring that gutters are cleaned, that trees are pruned and that there are no obstructions in waterways around the home that could result in flooding or water damage.

The City has a number of channels available to residents to report problems or seek assistance:

• Flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions can be reported to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089    
• Enquiries and/or complaints regarding burst and leaking water mains, faulty and leaking water meters, blocked and overflowing sewers can also be sent via SMS to 31373   
• Enquiries and/or complaints regarding electricity fault reporting can be sent via SMS to 31220  
• For emergencies, residents can contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone

When you call during an emergency, try to provide as much information as possible including an exact location with possible landmarks, and any contact numbers and names. If it's a medical incident include patient information such as any underlying/chronic conditions or a specific medical history.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office