STATEMENT: Severe Weather Situation Report

SITUATION REPORT AS AT 07 JUNE 2017 @ 12:00:  SEVERE WEATHER EVENT:   6 – 8 JUNE 2017

The South African Weather Services (SAWS) issued a special weather advisory for an intense cold front expected to affect the Western Cape from Tuesday night (6 June 2017) through to Thursday morning (8 June 2017) causing heavy rainfall, strong winds and high sea conditions. The weather advisory was subsequently confirmed by issuing a weather warning on 6 June 2017.  The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre convened an urgent meeting with SAWS on 5 June 2017 due to the expected severity.

The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre (WCDMC) alerted all stakeholders to ensure that they are on high alert and that their contingency plans are in place.  The WCDMC was activated on 6 June 2017 to monitor the effects of the severe weather.

The Joint Operation Committee’s Incident Priorities are as follows:

• Provide for the safety and welfare of public and response personnel;
• Maximize the protection of public health and welfare; &
• Ensure critical infrastructure remains stable.

The Strategic Objectives are to:

• Maintain situational awareness through a systematic and planned process for tasking, collecting, processing, analysing, and disseminating information;
• Manage a coordinated interagency response effort that reflects the composition of the PDMC;
• Inform the public, stakeholders, and the media of response activities;
• Identify and address social, political, and economic issues; &
• Support and coordinate any request for assistance.

Average wind speeds between 60 and 70 km/h and gusts of between 80 and 100km/h were recorded throughout the evening for the Province. Very high seas will increase to 10m -12m by later afternoon/evening, subsiding overnight into tomorrow morning. The high seas will coincide with near high spring tide at around 14h30. Snow is expected on the mountains later this afternoon which will result in extremely cold temperatures.

The various stakeholders reported the following:

Department of Health: EMS

Four patients (2 Lavender Hill; 2 Panorama) were transported to hospital due to injuries. Approximately 15 people were evacuated in the Informal Settlements in Malmesbury and temporary accommodated has been provided.

Four fatalities were reported in Kraaifontein due to fire caused by lightning. One fatality was confirmed in Lavender Hill due to a building collapse.

SAPS

Two accidents were reported and the ProvJoc has been activated for the severe weather event.

Department of Transport and Public Works

Chapman’s peak has been closed due to mudslides and they are currently monitoring the roads in terms of clean-up operations due to debris caused by strong winds. The Hugenote tunnel is open to light vehicles and heavy vehicles are rerouted through the Du Toit’s Kloof pass.

Metrorail

• Has reported delays on train services exceeding 60 minutes
• Closure of Transnet Freight Rail lines: Stikland, Malmesbury, Wellington and Muldersvlei services has been closed due to safety
• Pantograph hook-up at Somerset-West:  Trains from Cape Town terminate at Firgrove which will affect Eerste Rriver to Strand
• Woltemade: Residual delays following an early morning signal failure; all central, north and Cape Flats trains are affected
• Residual effect of faulty train earlier at Kalk Bay: affects the train service to Simon’s Town. Trains are operating under manual authorisation.
• The Monte Vista line is operational

National Sea Rescue Institute

Assistance was provided in Kommetjie with the cleaning of debris. Continuous contact with the Maritime Response Coordination Centre (MRCC) is maintained regarding sea traffic monitoring and it was reported that no vessels are in distressed.

Western Cape Education Department

The schools were closed for today and will reopen tomorrow, 8 June 2017. The following schools were damaged due to the severe weather event:

Metropole 

• Princeton High, Capricorn Primary, Plumstead High, Berglviet High, Vodacom Teachers’ Support Centre (Merrydale), Blomvlei Primary, The Vine School NPC,  Impendulo Primary, Palm Park primary and Itsitsa Primary

Cape Winelands Education District:

• De Tuinen Primary, Riverview Primary and Victoria Primary

Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD)

The service providers for social relief are on standby and WCDSD is awaiting verification from the municipalities.

SANDF

One Oryx aircraft is on standby for the evacuation of people, should the need arise.

National Department of Water Affairs: Western Cape Region

A concern of possible flooding in the Paarl and Somerset West areas was communicated.

Cape Nature

All hiking routes has been closed to the public

Eskom

Electricity Disruption were reported in Albertinia/Stilbaai, Tulbagh, Caledon/Greyton, De Doorns, Touwsrivier, Ladismith, Franschoek, Worcester and Darling. Ladismith town’s water supply has been affected due to the electricity disruption. Eskom is attending to these areas.

ACSA

No accidents were reported and flights movement has been limited.

City of Cape Town Municipality

Eden District Municipality

• Strong winds in the Eden District Municipality has been reported and veldfires along the N2

De Hoop/ Kouga fire (Uniondale area). Resources has been deployed to attend to the fire.

• The western flank at “die poort” has been contained, teams are currently mopping up.
• The Eastern flank is high in the mountains at Mr. Nico Gerber however no immediate danger exist.
• The Southern Flank has been contained no open flames visible at this point in time.

• The fire services is attending to the Hooggekraal fire (Karatara) in Sedgefield.
• The fire and rescue teams has been deployed to attend to the Kruisfontein fire in Knysna). The Fire in plantation completely out of control and 13 houses at Springveld were evacuated. Knysna has requested assistance from all available resources at adjacent local authorities. Mountains Two Oceans (MTO) is also assisting with additional resources.
• Hessequa fire and rescue teams on scene is attending to the Kruisrivier fire. The fire is in the mountain area and poses no threat to live and property at this point in time.
• George fire services is attending to a fire in Wilderness.
• One house along the N2 in Touws River was lost in a fire.

Overberg District Municipality:

• The roads department are currently cleaning up debris on secondary roads.
• Overstrand the following areas are closed:
  • Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus,
  • Fairy Glen Drummond,
  • Koggelberg nature reserve,
  • Stoney point in Betty Bay.
• One informal dwelling was blown down and electricity disruptions were reported in Palmiet and Voëlklip.
• In Grabouw informal settlements roofs were blown and road closures were reported in the area.  Six informal dwellings were affected in Botriver and 6 families were displaced and are being attended to. Power lines were affected in Villiersdorp as well a wall collapse.

West Coast District Municipality:

Approximately 13 houses roofs were blown off and 45 informal dwellings collapsed and roofs blown away. A house and an informal settlement fire in Vredendal was reported however no injuries occurred. Power failure in Citrusdal was reported. Various trees were uprooted due to strong winds and clean-up operations were done. A roof of crèche in Saldanha Bay was blown away.

Central Karoo District Municipality

At the Beaufort West airstrip, the aircraft hanger’s doors was blown off which resulted in damage to the aircraft.

Cape Winelands District Municipality

Approximately 30 structures were damaged and 37 households were displaced Temporary accommodation was provided and 89 informal settlements were issued with sandbags. Debris on roads were cleaned up. The Eerste Begin Fire Station sustained damage to carport due to strong winds.

The JOC members made the following recommendations:

• All citizens along the coastal areas to stay clear from beaches;
• Businesses along the coastline note possible sea rising levels expected from 14h00;
• All citizens to stay away from water masses (rivers and dams) due fast flow run offs;
• No access to hiking trails and mountain areas to be prohibited

Forecast shows less rain, worse wind and snowfall across the high lying areas with extreme cold coming in.