Beware of flooding in low-lying areas
The South African Weather Services has issued a warning of severe weather for Gauteng, and the Ekurhuleni metro says all response agencies remain on high alert ready to attend to calls for assistance.
Ekurhuleni Emergency Services also issued a warning of flooding in low-lying areas as rain continues to fall.
Acting metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe says the caution warned that heavy rains will persist until Sunday.
“The Disaster and Emergency Management Services (EMS) and other response teams have already attended to some areas which were affected by the heavy rain on Tuesday (March 4),” says Gadebe.
Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson, William Tladi, urges motorists to drive with extra caution, and avoid flooded roads.
“The heavy rain may lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas, such as Trichardts Bridge and the train bridge, corner of Hospital and Railway streets, in Boksburg.”
Motorists are warned not to cross those bridges when in flood, as the water has the potential to damage vehicles and even cause injuries and deaths.
The roads are wet and visibility is decreased, so motorists are also urged to drive carefully, avoid speeding and keep a safe following distance.
The wet weather is also exacerbating the pothole problem on the city’s roads, and motorists are urged to be extra careful, when driving in areas where the surface is covered with water.
Pedestrians, especially school children, are also urged to take care when walking across standing water, crossing rivers and low-lying bridges in Boksburg.
“People must avoid walking across areas where the water is higher than ankle deep,” says Tladi.
Emergency Services also urges those that reside in low-lying areas to stay vigilant, especially those that live in the local informal settlements.
These include Ramaphosa Ext 2, Angelo, and Delmore informal settlements.
Tladi advises those that live in low-lying areas to use sandbags to diverge the heavy rain water.
Residents are also urged to keep their children away from open water, including, dams, canals, manholes, rivers and ponds.
Tladi says no major flooding has been reported in Boksburg at this stage, but officials are monitoring the flood hotspots, and will be closed if a potentially dangerous or a disastrous situation is detected.
Gadebe advised Ekurhuleni community members to take the following steps to prepare, prevent and mitigate the consequence of the forthcoming heavy rains.
* Refrain from settling in the low lying areas;
* Use sand sacks to channel flash flood water away from residential structures;
* Dig canals that take water away from your residential structures;
* Avoid crossing on foot or vehicle on any low lying bridges and roads;
* Clear any debris that may block storm water drains next to homes;
* Use plastic or similar material to close the leaking roofs of your properties; and
n Advise children not to play paly in the flash-flood water.
“Residents should also ensure that they shelter their pets.”
Emergency numbers: 10177 – toll-free, 112 – cellphone, 011 458 0911 – Life Threatening Emergency Line, 086 054 3000 – Services Emergency Line.
