Rain is coming and Capetonians are celebrating! But what if it rains just a little too much in a short period of time? Here are some tips from Traveller24.com:
How Can I Prepare for a Flood?
- Identify the risk in your local area.
- Prepare a home emergency plan, and identify risks around your home.
- Remove leaves (from downpipes or gutters) or any other items that can increase the risk of flooding in your area.
- Have an evacuation plan. Everyone in your family has to know where to go to find shelter.
- Prepare an emergency toolkit. This should include a first aid kit, torch and portable radio with batteries, candles and waterproof matches, drinking water, a multi-tool, whistle and emergency contact numbers.
What Should I do during a flooding?
- Monitor current flood warnings. Listen to the radio for emergency warnings, evacuation advice and weather updates.
- Avoid entering floodwater unless it is necessary, and never underestimate the strength of floodwater, even if you are inside a vehicle.
- Follow all instructions from emergency authorities.
- Turn off all electricity and water and take your cellphone with you.
- Assist elderly and disabled neighbours.
What Should I do after the flood?
- Before entering your house, wait until the water has dropped below floor level.
- Check with electricity and water authorities to know whether it is safe for you to use these resources.
- Be aware of contamination if water sources have been flooded; this could be unsafe to drink.
Motorist Safety
- NEVER drive into water covering the road. You do not know how deep it is or if the road is
- washed away.
- Turn around and go the other way!
- Look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges and low areas.
- If the vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
- Be cautious, especially at night when visibility is impaired.
- Do not park your vehicle along streams, particularly during threatening conditions.
What to do during a major storm with gale force winds:
- Disconnect appliances
- Stay inside well clear of windows, sheltering in the strongest part of the house (internal hallway, bathroom or cellar)
- Keep an emergency kit with you that includes things like first aid supplies, torch, battery operated portable radio, important documents and medicines.
- If possible stay in secure shelter
- Avoid driving by road as far as possible, stay in your vehicle if caught on the road, with the car handbrake on and parked well clear of trees, powerlines and possible flooding
- Never drive, ride or walk in floodwaters
- Fill buckets, sinks and baths with water in case the water supply becomes restricted.
Important Emergency contact numbers:
- City of Cape Town: 107 landline or 021 480 7700
- Police Flying Squad: 10111
- Ambulance: 10177
- City of Cape Town General Emergency: 107
- Cellphone Emergency: 112 (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom)
- Red Cross Children’s Hospital Poison Line & the Tygerberg Hospital Poison Information Centre: 0861 555 777
- Safe Schools: 0800 45 46 47
- Western Cape Government: 0860 142 142
- Sea Rescue: 021 449 3500
- Mountain Rescue: 021 948 9900
- Disaster Management: 080 911 4357
- Eden District: 044 805 5071
- Central Karoo: 023 414 2603
- West Coast: 022 433 8700
- Overberg: 028 271 8111
Stay dry and warm and most of all…. enjoy the welcome rain!
(In addition – JUST IN –WC average dam level currently 17.6%.)
