{"id":49967,"date":"2023-12-08T12:59:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T10:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/franschhoek-floods-no-one-saw-it-coming-20231208\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T04:57:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T02:57:36","slug":"franschhoek-floods-no-one-saw-it-coming-20231208","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/franschhoek-floods-no-one-saw-it-coming-20231208\/","title":{"rendered":"Franschhoek floods: \u2018no one saw it coming\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If there is one lesson the June and September floods of 2023 taught us it is that one should always be prepared for any emergency, so it is crucial that everyone equip themselves with basic health and safety training, which could save lives and property during natural disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This according to Kurt Maske, a paramedic who is also largely involved with voluntary rescue and disaster-management operations in the Boland region and several parts of the Western Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paarl Post<\/em> spoke to Maske on the back of his voluntary involvement in coordinating disaster relief during this year\u2019s devastating floods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maske, whose property in Franschhoek was also affected by the Heritage-weekend floods, said it was a natural disaster no-one was prepared for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFranschhoek was completely cut off from its surrounding areas,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were some areas that were without water and electricity for almost a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince I was also involved with disaster relief in June I quickly managed to reconvene the group of volunteers that were mobilised at that time (June). I had them all on a WhatsApp group.\u201cWith the power being out for almost a week our internet was essentially also affected. Franschhoek had no means of communication for certain days and that alone was very difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cApart from the medical emergencies that we did not get at times, we also struggled to communicate with volunteers on what areas need to be covered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Kurt

<\/p>\n

Maske assited with disaster relief efforts during the June and September floods in Franschhoek.<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Rasaad Adams<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maske said preparation and precaution during severe weather conditions is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have to ensure that essential devices are charged, that you have extra power supplies, generators if needed and non-perishable food items. These items should be able to sustain you for at least a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlso ensure that your vehicle has enough fuel or that you have a backup supply of fuel. We saw how Franschhoek was completely cut off on both entrances, which made entry impossible for vehicles that would have to fill up pump stations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"The

<\/p>\n

The Terbodore Caf\u00e9 in Franschhoek\u2019s Main Road was one of the businesses severely affected by the September floods.<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Terbodore Caf\u00e9<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

He said his efforts to coordinate disaster relief in September was facilitated by his network of volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe key is to identify certain role players in the town and in communities that are willing to step up in the case of an emergency. There were houses that were completely destroyed but the way people came together was absolutely incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe saw how even those in the private sector came out and assisted where possible. Companies offered their services, residents opened their homes for flood affected victims and assisted with food and water supplies at absolutely no cost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Kurt

<\/p>\n

Maske is a qualified advanced life support paramedic with ER24.<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maske added that there was a lesson to be learned from these disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
I would, therefore, advise people to go for basic first-aid training and obtain essential emergency items so that they are at least somewhat prepared.<\/div>\n
Kurt Maske<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a wake-up call to us and I think to everyone. No-one saw it coming. I hope people realise now they need to be prepared for such things. Luckily, we don\u2019t have many natural disasters in South Africa, but when it happens its usually quite severe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would, therefore, advise people to go for basic first-aid training and obtain essential emergency items so that they are at least somewhat prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a permanent emergency and advanced life-support paramedic at ER24 until the end of September this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An opportunity to go overseas then came along, one that enables him now to work on a two-months on, two-months off basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his two months off he returns home and remains actively involved with emergency response at ER24 who has assigned him an emergency response vehicle, which he now uses to provide advanced life support in several areas across the Cape Winelands, Cape Peninsula and Breede River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Kurt

<\/p>\n

He obtained his BHSc degree in Advanced Life Support at Durban University of Techno\u00adlogy in 2019.<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maske grew up in Franschhoek, where he matriculated from Bridge High School. He said it was the limited availability of emergency-response teams in Franschhoek that sparked his interest in becoming a paramedic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He obtained his BHSc degree in Advanced Life Support at Durban University of  Techno\u00adlogy in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maske is also a reservist with the South African Police Service (SAPS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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floods: \u2018no one saw it coming\u2019 | Paarl Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/franschhoek-floods-no-one-saw-it-coming-20231208\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Franschhoek floods: \u2018no one saw it coming\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If there is one lesson the June and September floods of 2023 taught us it is that one should always be prepared for any emergency, so it is crucial that […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/franschhoek-floods-no-one-saw-it-coming-20231208\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Paarl Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/paarlpost1\" 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According to ER24 paramedic Kurt Maske, the accident occurred around 07:00. \"The injured patients were transported by ER24 and Metro Ambulance Services to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Thirteen people were injured in a collision between two vehicles on the R45 in Franschhoek this morning (Tuesday, 3 June). 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Paarl Post verstaan dat die drie rowers kort n\u00e1 middernag\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Die polisie en ambulansdienste van ER24 op die toneel by die Franschhoek-gastehuis Saterdagnag. 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Nooddienste is omstreeks 20:10 na di\u00e9 botsing in die Groendal-gebied ontbied. Volgens Kurt Maske, 'n plaaslike\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Twee voertuie het Saterdagaand (9 Augustus) in Franschhoek gebots. 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Die polisievrou se kollega is ongedeerd het Kurt Maske, 'n ER24-paramedikus, by navraag ges\u00ea. \"Soos wat ons verstaan was die twee\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Die polisie en paramedici staan Donderdagaand buite die Franschhoek-polisiekantoor. 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Volgens Kurt Maske, \u2018n ER24-paramedikus wat deel van die reddingspan was is die wrak\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/506906056_677342128610253_8019765017150544329_n.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54361,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/fietsryer-op-r45-in-franschhoek-getref-20230508-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":49967,"position":5},"title":"Fietsryer op R45 in Franschhoek getref","author":"Paarl Post","date":"8 May 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2019n Man wat Maandag douvoordag op die R45 in Franschhoek op sy fiets op pad huis toe was, is in \u2019n kritieke toestand in die hospitaal nadat \u2019n voertuig hom getref het.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/67fb2dfade834b829fc03503d69a6ea5.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/67fb2dfade834b829fc03503d69a6ea5.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/67fb2dfade834b829fc03503d69a6ea5.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/67fb2dfade834b829fc03503d69a6ea5.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Paarl Post","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49967"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=49967"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/paarlpost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=49967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}