Pretoria - The City of Cape Town today announced its Winter Plan for 2013, which will ensure that all rescue and disaster assistance agencies are on standby for any emergencies.
The city will also have an early warning system in place so to help it prevent disasters as far as possible.
The plan forms part of the city’s commitment to building a safe, caring and well-run city that prepares for the effects of the expected inclement weather on residents.
It details how the relevant departments in the city will cooperate and liaise with each other to deal with possible flood damage and other eventualities during the wet winter season.
As with previous years, the Winter Plan is managed by the City’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Centre, which will coordinate the plan in cooperation with various departments and sections, including Solid Waste Management, Social Development and Early Childhood Development, Community Services, Roads and Stormwater, the 107 Public Emergency Communication Centre, Traffic Services, Fire and Rescue Services, Development Services and Human Settlements.
“Planning for this winter season started in 2012. It followed a structured approach and included lessons learned in dealing with challenges last winter.
“Mitigation measures are already in place to prepare for any potential storm damage relating to the change in weather, such as flooding,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Brett Herron.
Herron said the City was geared to deal with any major emergency or crisis events, which require a multi-disciplinary reaction by specialised disaster response teams to safeguard the general public, property, environment and livelihoods.
The South African Weather Service has forecast that Cape Town will experience normal winter rainfall with slightly increased probabilities for below normal rainfall (or drier conditions than normal) during early winter (May-June) and mid-winter (late June-July-August).
However, indications are that there is a higher probability for wet winter conditions (higher than normal rainfall) towards late winter (July-August-September).
The nine high-risk areas which the City has prioritised include informal settlements in Fisantekraal, Philippi, Gugulethu and Strand.
In this regard, the City’s DRM Centre has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Swartland Municipality to institute an early warning system.
The agreement ensures that the City is notified in the event of heavy rainfall, which may result in the Diep River flooding.
Similarly, DRM and other City Departments have instituted the Lourens River early warning system in Somerset West, which is prone to flooding. Last year, DRM also initiated a successful Lourens River flood simulation exercise.
The City has appeals to residents not to dispose of waste into drains or stormwater systems as this will cause a blockage and create an overflow downstream. Not only could this lead to flooding, but it also poses unnecessary health risks.
As part of this preparedness programme, residents are given practical tips on how to raise floor levels and divert flood waters, as well as reduce health hazards associated with stagnant water.
An information pamphlet (in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa) is being distributed to residents in high-risk flood areas.
The city has called on members of the public to report flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions to the City’s Customer Contact 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 as well as electrical fault reporting can be sent via SMS to 31220.
For all life- and property-threatening emergency situations, please call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a mobile phone. You will then be transferred to the nearest relevant emergency service provider.
The City’s Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on roadways and deviations. – SAnews.gov.za
