Storm causes flooding in Woodmere homes
Homes in Laurel Street, Woodmere were flooded once again, on Monday.
Two families in Woodmere were hit hard by Monday night’s storm.
As the rain poured down, the resulting flash-flood water streamed into the Laurel Street homes of Petro and Jacobus Vermaak and Ronel and Fanus Welmans.
This was the second time in a matter of weeks that the families suffered storm damage.
The first incident, on November 9, resulted in huge damage and insurance claims and now, just as they were getting everything back in order, they were hit again.
Petro told the GCN that, luckily, this time her home was not as badly damaged.
However, the garage and flatlet were flooded and the garden was filled with litter and debris which washed down from the nearby park, on the corner of Wilge and Laurel streets.
The Welmans on the other hand, suffered huge damage.
Daughter Jeaneldé (26) joked with the GCN and said, “Well I always wanted a water bed, but this is taking it a bit far. My room is totally submerged in water.”
Ronel said the water was so deep that one of their cars had to be written-off due to the damage caused and all the carpets in the home had to be removed.
Water damage could be seen throughout the property.
“We are not sure exactly how much damage has been caused at this point but we estimate it to be about R700 000,” Ronel said.
The families claim the flooding could have been lessened if the metro maintained the infrastructure in the area.
Jacobus, an engineer by profession, told the GCN that the problems, which have been brought to the attention of the metro numerous times, are mainly due to the fact that the infrastructure is not adequate.
The sewer system is poorly maintained and blockages are never cleared.
“The pipe servicing the storm water/sewer system is too small to handle the water which flows through the park and down the street.
“It is also blocked somewhere in the park – and this is never cleared – and the two storm water drains cannot handle the amount of water,” Jacobus said.
The road near the storm water drains is also starting to sink.
They are also questioning the building of a speed hump across the mouth of Wilge Street as this serves no purpose to calm traffic in the area. As far as they can see, the only thing the hump does is prevent water from entering Wilge Street and sends it steaming down Laurel Street, straight to their homes.
The families want the metro to clean up and unblock the pipe and upgrade and maintain the sewer system.
The GCN asked the metro for comment on these issues but none had been received at the time of going to press.
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