Safety in bad weather

Residents urged to exercise caution in bad weather conditions

The City of Cape Town appeals to Capetonians to please exercise extreme caution during the very cold and wet conditions that have set in and are expected to continue over the next few days.

The Disaster Risk Management Centre is on high alert, working with its supporting disaster response agencies and public safety authorities.

·         Motorists should please slow down and maintain safe following distances on roadways.

·         Keep a careful eye on open flames and extinguish fires (including candles, lamps and paraffin stoves) before going to bed.

·         Avoid areas such as the Sea Point Promenade, Kalk Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, False Bay Coastline and Strand/Gordon’s Bay beachfront areas during this period due to possible storm surges.

·         Private home owners living close to the beach need to be prepared for possible storm surge impacts to their property.

Residents can reduce their flood risk by implementing the following measures:

·         Check that the drainage facilities on your property are in good working order.

·         Check for dead and burnt trees that could fall onto the property, and notify the authorities if there is a danger.

·         Place sandbags where necessary to protect critical areas.

·         If there is a threat of severe flooding or debris flow to your property, select a route through the property that will cause the least damage (such as a pathway or stairs) and use sandbags to try and confine the flow to that route.

·         Raise the floor level of your house to be higher than the land outside.

·         Listen to weather warnings that are issued by the South African Weather Service.

·         Check the terms of your insurance policy with regard to flood and mud damage.

Residents are encouraged to report any emergencies to the City’s 107 line. This line should be used if one’s life or property is endangered – the caller will be transferred to the relevant emergency service provider. Dial 107 from a Telkom line or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. The quicker incidents are reported, the sooner help can arrive.

Flooding, blocked drains and service disruptions can be reported to the City’s Customer Contact Centre at 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 reported via SMS to 31373. Enquiries and/or complaints regarding electricity fault reporting can be reported via SMS to 31220.

The City’s Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 for information on delays on roadways and deviations.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media enquiries:

Operational issues: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration & Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town, Tel: 080 911 4357 or Cell: 084 711 7709

Charlotte Powell, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town, Tel: 080 911 4357 or Cell: 084 711 7710