Brace for extreme weather

Brace yourselves for possible extreme wet-weather conditions and possible floods, which scientists expect to accompany La Niña.

La Nina is the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean which influences atmospheric circulation, and consequently rainfall and temperature in specific areas around the world.

Read also: El Niño and La Niña: Complex weather patterns

Hollard’s risk improvement team has researched the risks South Africans are likely to face with the arrival of La Nina and the general agreement is that the impact will be heavy rains with a high risk of possible flooding occurring from December to February, an opinion seconded by the majority of weather experts.

“The general agreement is that it will impact us with heavy rain falls and the high risk of flooding from December to February,” said Justin Naylor, broker champion at Hollard Broker Markets.

“We can expect La Niña to bring an increase in extreme rainfall events with a very high risk of flooding. We can also expect these floods will be severe enough to cause infrastructure damage, carry off anything unanchored and destroy items not stored above expected water levels.”

Protective steps to take before La Nina drops extreme wet weather on us:

• Check if your premises are in an area with a high risk of flooding;
• Clean and clear all gutters, drain pipes, drain entrances and all water-related apparatus that allows water to drain away.
• Protect the inlet to all drains and stormwater drainage against debris blockage.
• Fit metal grates, curbs, and/or have sandbags ready at all vulnerable positions.
• Build a low protective wall (bunding) to stop water flowing and collecting around sensitive apparatus like electrical equipment, furnaces, boilers, computers and electronic switchgear.
• Store stock, spares or items susceptible to water damage on pallets to raise them off ground level and above a potential flood level. Also, where possible, relocate sensitive equipment to higher ground or, internally, higher levels above the floor.
• Any water intrusion points in the floors and walls of premises should be sealed with water-resistant material.
• Provide properly designed anchorage to everything that may float or move laterally when impacted by fast flowing water.
• Install watertight covers over cable trenches to prevent them from being filled with silt and debris carried by flood waters.
• Install water sensors and relay devices that will automatically send an alarm to a location monitored 24/7;
• Install automatic sprinkler valves, as fire is a risk.

Read also: El Niño and La Niña: Complex weather patterns
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