Be prepared for thunderstorm season
EMS urges residents to take weather warnings seriously
“We have officially entered the thunderstorm season, and we urge residents to always take weather warnings seriously,” said Robert Mulaudzi.
According to the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson, the South African Weather Service has issued an alert of the possibility of severe thunderstorms throughout the CoJ.
“The thunderstorms will start from Thursday (5 October) and last until Sunday (8 October), and they will be accompanied by heavy downpours and gusty winds. We urge our residents to be prepared,” he said.
Residents are encouraged to stay up to date regarding the weather situation by listening to the radio, watching television, reading newspapers and following the Twitter accounts of the CoJ (@CityofJoburgZA) and the EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS).
“Because of previous incidents throughout the CoJ, causing roads to flood, vehicles to be swept away and damage to houses and vehicles, we call on our residents and motorists to take the necessary safety precautions. Water levels should be monitored closely, especially by those who live in low-lying areas, like informal settlements, in order for them to know when it is necessary to move to higher ground,” Mulaudzi said.
The officials from CoJ’s Disaster Management and the EMS are on high alert and will be continuously monitoring all the low-lying areas – especially the CoJ’s 189 informal settlements – to ensure a quick and efficient response, should it be needed. “The Disaster Management centre is fully operational and monitoring teams have been dispatched to all seven regions of the city to ensure we can respond to any emergency as quickly as possible,” he said.
Some safety tips during heavy rains and flooding, include the following:
• Be aware of where your house is built – avoid high risk areas such as river beds.
• Obey the rules and by-laws of your local municipality.
• Avoid being on land which has been prohibited by your local municipality.
• Become a community disaster risk management volunteer in your area. To find out more about this, contact your local Besafe centre and ask them whether you can become part of a Community Emergency Response Team (Cert) in your area.
• Ensure that the drains in your area are cleaned on a regular basis and are not blocked by debris, as this can also cause flooding.
• Never try to cross flooded rivers, streets, streams or bridges – either on foot or in your car.
• If you are in a low-lying area, make sure you monitor the water levels continuously, in order to move to higher ground should it be necessary.
• Listen to the radio or television for updated emergency information and make sure you are ready to evacuate should it become necessary.
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