Homes in several informal settlements have been destroyed as the Mother City got the first real taste of winter, and Disaster Risk Management is now on high alert for the traditional flood season.
Disaster Risk Management's Charlotte Powell said gale-force winds and rains wrecked 15 informal structures in 7th Avenue, Strandfontein, and eight shacks were destroyed in Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek, leaving 32 people homeless.
Strong winds also ripped apart 40 shelters in Delft, occupied by residents who were evicted from the N2 Gateway houses that they had illegally occupied.
Powell said Delft residents had refused to be housed in a nearby community hall and had chosen to stay with relatives instead.
"Assessors went out to the affected areas to assess the damage and determine how bad the situation was.
"Clean-up resumed immediately," she said.
Powell said those whose homes had been affected were supplied with building materials, and non-government organisations had provided food and blankets.
"All the damage was definitely caused due to the gale force winds. The rain was not that bad, and while it left people's clothes and blankets wet and damp, homes were not flooded," she said.
Powell said the city had identified and mapped about 4 000 high flood risk structures in informal settlements that could be affected during coming storms.
"We have introduced special flood risk reduction measures by our roads and storm water teams," she said.
The cleaning and upgrade of stormwater infrastructure, drains, regular inspection of retention ponds and watercourses formed part of the corrective action plan the city would adopt during the flood season, she said.
Powell said a cleaning programme was also well under way, including the cleaning of silt and other debris from underground systems and stormwater catch pits along roadways.
Dumisani Ximbi, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said": "As part of our ongoing public education, residents are given practical tips on how to raise floor levels, divert flood waters and reduce health hazards associated with stagnant water.
"The city has prepared a trilingual brochure, entitled Protect Yourself, which is being distributed to residents in high-risk flood areas," he said.
Yesterday high winds drove a fierce blaze through the seaside town of Betty's Bay destroying fives homes, and four homesteads were gutted by another fire that raged between Hermanus and Stanford.
Later two more fires ignited in the Overberg, one in the Viljoenshof area between Gansbaai and Bredasdorp, and the other in the mountains above Riviersonderend.
This morning Reinhard Geldenhuys, chief fire officer in the Overberg region, said Cape Nature had been working with his teams all night to control the mountain fire, but that all of the fires were now under control.
On the Peninsula, Chapman's Peak Drive was closed yesterday as a precaution after winds of more than 146km/h were recorded early yesterday.
Spokesman Mark Jacobs said the pass was opened later yesterday morning.
No damage or rockfalls had been reported, he said. - Cape Argus
Disaster Risk Management's Charlotte Powell said gale-force winds and rains wrecked 15 informal structures in 7th Avenue, Strandfontein, and eight shacks were destroyed in Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek, leaving 32 people homeless.
Strong winds also ripped apart 40 shelters in Delft, occupied by residents who were evicted from the N2 Gateway houses that they had illegally occupied.
Powell said Delft residents had refused to be housed in a nearby community hall and had chosen to stay with relatives instead.
"Assessors went out to the affected areas to assess the damage and determine how bad the situation was.
"Clean-up resumed immediately," she said.
Powell said those whose homes had been affected were supplied with building materials, and non-government organisations had provided food and blankets.
"All the damage was definitely caused due to the gale force winds. The rain was not that bad, and while it left people's clothes and blankets wet and damp, homes were not flooded," she said.
Powell said the city had identified and mapped about 4 000 high flood risk structures in informal settlements that could be affected during coming storms.
"We have introduced special flood risk reduction measures by our roads and storm water teams," she said.
The cleaning and upgrade of stormwater infrastructure, drains, regular inspection of retention ponds and watercourses formed part of the corrective action plan the city would adopt during the flood season, she said.
Powell said a cleaning programme was also well under way, including the cleaning of silt and other debris from underground systems and stormwater catch pits along roadways.
Dumisani Ximbi, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said": "As part of our ongoing public education, residents are given practical tips on how to raise floor levels, divert flood waters and reduce health hazards associated with stagnant water.
"The city has prepared a trilingual brochure, entitled Protect Yourself, which is being distributed to residents in high-risk flood areas," he said.
Yesterday high winds drove a fierce blaze through the seaside town of Betty's Bay destroying fives homes, and four homesteads were gutted by another fire that raged between Hermanus and Stanford.
Later two more fires ignited in the Overberg, one in the Viljoenshof area between Gansbaai and Bredasdorp, and the other in the mountains above Riviersonderend.
This morning Reinhard Geldenhuys, chief fire officer in the Overberg region, said Cape Nature had been working with his teams all night to control the mountain fire, but that all of the fires were now under control.
On the Peninsula, Chapman's Peak Drive was closed yesterday as a precaution after winds of more than 146km/h were recorded early yesterday.
Spokesman Mark Jacobs said the pass was opened later yesterday morning.
No damage or rockfalls had been reported, he said. - Cape Argus
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