Cape Town residents are advised to batten down the hatches, amid weather warning by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
In a statement, released by the City of Cape Town, spokesperson Sonica Lategan says the Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) has been alerted to the following weather warning for Monday, 3 June, and Tuesday, 4 June:
Weather warnings:
- Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rain: The SAWS expects localised flooding of roads and susceptible settlements over the southern parts of the West Coast, western parts of Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town and western parts of Overberg districts tomorrow (Tuesday, 4 June).
- Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds: This will lead to difficulty in navigating small vessels and personal watercraft at sea and is expected between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas on Monday, 3 June, but Cape Agulhas to Plettenberg Bay tomorrow (Tuesday, 4 June).
“The DRMC has alerted all relevant City departments to be on standby to deal with any impacts brought on by the forecast,” Lategan says.
Residents are requested to help reduce risks to their properties by:
- Clearing out drainage systems
- Raising the floor level of a structure so that it is higher than the natural ground level•
- Raise furniture on bricks to clear from the floor to limit water damage
- Make sandbags
- Dig trenches around the house to divert water away from the house
- Report blocked drains, intakes and illegal dumping – illegal dumping in the storm water canals and sewers make flooding worse
- Waterproof roofs, clear gutters and remove dead tree branches
- For emergencies, residents can contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
