No major incidents reported after severe hail storm – Joburg EMS

Emergency services in Johannesburg are still on high alert as heavy rains are expected to continue over the weekend.

Hail storm

City of Johannesburg emergency services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba told The Citizen on Saturday afternoon that there have not been reports of major incidents following heavy hail storm.

“We have not received any major incidents caused by the rain so far, but there were incidents in Orange Farm where two house roofs were blown away,” she said.

Radebe-Kgiba further urged motorists to drive carefully to avoid trouble.

“Make sure you keep a safe distance when driving and if there are any flooded roads, please avoid them,” she said.

She also urged residents in low-lying areas to be extra cautious.

City of Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson William Ntladi also told EWN that reinforcements had been roped in to ensure the safety of residents.

WATCH: How to drive safely on wet roads

Meanwhile, Tshwane EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso called on motorists to avoid crossing roads “where there’s water if one is not sure how deep it goes”.

This weather comes after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) earlier this week had warned of heavy rains in several parts of the country.

The weather service said wet weather was expected to persist into the weekend in parts of Gauteng, parts of the Eastern Cape province, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal as well as in Mpumalanga.

It also cautioned that the severe weather conditions could bring with them the possibility of localised flooding in low-lying areas and the risk of damage to cars on the roads, as well as critical infrastructure.

This could cause damage to both informal and formal settlements and houses, and business structures.

Insurer Dialdirect has offered tips to stay safe in adverse weather conditions:

• Check structures around your house for weak spots, clear debris from gutters, fasten items that could become deadly projectiles and cut away dead trees and branches.
• Heavy rains are often associated with lightning. Install surge protection plugs and/or unplug appliances before the storm arrives.
• If you are in an area prone to heavy hail, make sure that the structures around your home can handle the extra weight and that you are equipped to clear any build-up of hail. Reinforce structures where necessary.