Teams of
\nGift of the Givers arrived in Struisbaai on Thursday 6 May to offer relief to
\nresidents affected by flooding caused by heavy rains and a hail storm on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The small
\ncoastal town of Struisbaai was hit hardest when countless homes were flooded on
\nWednesday after a hail storm and heavy rains fell. Photos and videos of
\nhailstones as big as golf balls and of a small boat transporting residents in
\nthe streets of Struisbaai circulated on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A statement
\nby Cape Agulhas Municipality reports that 37 people were evacuated from their
\nhomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople
\nhave been evacuated from their homes and are housed at the Struisbaai Caravan
\nPark, Struisbaai Community Hall and other places of accommodation,\u201d reads the
\nstatement by Cape Agulhas Municipal Manager Eben Phillips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Napier,
\nElim and parts of Struisbaai North suffered power outages on Wednesday due to
\nthe heavy storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A statement
\nby Overberg District Municipality reports that a primary school in Agulhas had
\nto be evacuated when water runoff from the mountain started flowing through the
\nschool. The report further states that
\nrain tempos of 28 \u2013 38 mm per hour were experienced in the region at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe
\nstorm-water system was overwhelmed and many houses had water through them. Cape
\nAgulhas Law Enforcement and Traffic as well as Overberg Fire Rescue teams were
\ndeployed reacting to calls of entrapment and vehicles in the water and off the
\nroadways. The ODM roads department together with Provincial Traffic are
\nmonitoring roadways and will close roads as required. So far, no main routes
\nhave been closed,\u201d reads the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hugo
\nGeldenhuys, spokesperson for the Theewaterskloof Municipality, reports that
\nDisaster Management teams are on high alert as more heavy rain is expected in
\nthe early morning hours of Friday 7 May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTeams
\nworked throughout the night in the pouring rain to open stormwater systems that
\noverflowed due to the heavy rains experienced throughout Wednesday. Plans are
\nin place to house people at certain venues should they have to be evacuated.
\nThe situation is being monitored closely,\u201d Geldenhuys stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jandr\u00e9
\nBakker, spokesperson of the Department Public Works and Transport, confirmed
\nthat the only main route in the Overberg that has been closed, is the R319
\nbetween Bredasdorp and Swellendam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe expect
\nhowever that as the water collects, the low lying portions of the roads between
\nBredasdorp, Struisbaai and Arniston could flood later today. These roads are
\nnormally submerged for a very short while,\u201d Bakker stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday
\nmorning Stormsvlei Road between Bonnievale and Swellendam was still closed to
\ntraffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe N2
\nbetween Caledon and RIviersonderend has been reopened after it was closed
\nWednesday night,\u201d said Bakker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports
\nwere also received of two low-lying bridges between Tesselaarsdal and Caledon
\nand between Tesselaarsdal and Hermanus being submerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rudi
\nFraser, Overstrand Traffic Chief, confirmed that all roads in the Overstrand
\nare currently open. He added: \u201cThe R44- Clarence Drive was blocked by some
\nfalling rocks but the road was reopened to traffic. Our traffic department will
\ncontinue to monitor all roads in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overstrand
\nDisaster Management stated that they too will remain on high alert as rainy
\nconditions are expected to remain until Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overstrand
\nFire and Rescue Services chief Lester Smith added that all Overstrand Area
\nManagers have been requested to avail local community halls to accommodate
\ndisplaced persons should the need arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overstrand
\nMunicipality reports that operational teams were called in to assist the
\ncommunity of Zwelihle after flooding was reported in Landa Street, Zwelihle. \u201cA
\nsandbank also made it difficult for water to flow away from the houses and
\ntherefor some of the houses in Landa Street were flooded. The fire department
\nassisting the community with the help of the operational team (community
\nservices) by diverting the water flow with spades and the excavator loader. Law
\nenforcement and Traffic Services was also activated to assist. Teamwork ensures
\nthat the problem was solved. Fire Services teams are also assisting at Transit
\nCamp with sandbags,\u201d Smith stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fire
\nServices also assisted by packing sandbags to divert water at a home in
\nNeethling Street, Kleinmond<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cape
\nAgulhas Municipality has created a Flood Disaster Relief Fund in aid of the
\nthose effected by this disaster. Donations can be made to the Cape Agulhas
\nMunicipality\u2019s bank account. It will be managed by the Chief Financial Officer
\nHannes van Biljon. Visit the Cape Agulhas Municipality Facebook page for the
\nbanking details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Individuals,
\ngroups or organizations who wish to assist can also drop off non-perishable
\nfood items at Meals on Wheels at 67A Hoof Weg, Struisbaai between 08:30 and
\n14:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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