Gale force winds that persisted since Thursday night caused major damage to properties throughout the Cape Town.
In the morning of Thursday, 29 November 2012 the SA Weather Service issued a weather watch that City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre should be on alert and prepared as a result of gale force south-easterly winds that were forecasted reaching 35 knots or 65 km/h between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas.
The weather watch was upgraded in the morning of Friday, 30 November 2012 to a warning and that the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre should take action and place all disaster response teams on high-alert for the gale force south-easterly winds that was forecasted at 35 knots or 65 km/h between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas for yesterday [Friday] and today [Saturday, 01 December 2012].
Since Thursday night the City’s Electricity Services had to deal with 93 wires that were blown down in Athlone, Bantry Bay, Bergvliet, Bonteheuwel, Brackenfell, Cape Town Central City, Claremont, Crawford, Fish Hoek, Fresnaye, Gardens, Grassy Park, Green Point, Kensington, Kraaifontein, Lansdowne, Llandudno, Mfuleni, Milnerton, Muizenberg, Ndabeni, Oranjezicht, Pinelands, Retreat, Rondebosch, Rugby, Schotschekloof (Bo-Kaap), Sea Point, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Tamboerskloof, Three Anchor Bay, Wetton, Woodstock and in Zandvlei.
The City’s disaster response teams effected emergency repairs to all the electricity infrastructure that were affected and restored the supply to all areas.
The gale force wind conditions also blown several trees down and 132 incidents were recorded for the following areas since Thursday night: Athlone, Bantry Bay, Bellville, Bergvliet, Bloubergrant, Bonteheuwel, Camps Bay, Cape Town City Centre, Claremont, Constantia, Devil’s Peak, Durbanville, Edgemead, Freshnaye, Gardens, Goede Hoop, Goodwood, Gordon’s Bay, Grassy Park, Green Point, Hout Bay, Kalkfontein, Kenilworth, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Lakeside, Llandudno, Lotus River, Maitland, Mamre, Mfuleni, Mitchell’s Plain Monte Vista, Moule Point, Muizenberg, Newlands, Oranjezicht, Ottery, Parow, Pinelands, Plumstead, Retreat, Rondebosch, Schotschekloof (Bo-Kaap), Sea Point, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset-West, Stellenberg, Strand, Tamboerskloof, Woodstock and in Wynberg.
The City’s disaster response teams continued to clean up the debris where trees were blown down and made areas safe since Thursday night.
The following damages have been reported in the respective areas:
SEA POINT: In the evening of Thursday, 29 November 2012 gusting wind conditions along the Atlantic seaboard resulted in the roof sheeting of several buildings been blown off. The airborne debris has caused substantial damages to seven (7) motor vehicles and adjacent properties.
BO-KAAP: In the Bo-Kaap, the roof of a house in Longmarket Street blew off and debris landed in a cemetery in the vicinity in the evening of Thursday, 29 November 2012.
STRAND: At 14:35 on Friday, 30 November 2012 the gusting winds blown down 5 structures situated on Vlakte Plaas Informal Settlement, off Broadlands Road, near Strand.
STRAND: At 18:30 Friday, 30 November 2012 roof sheeting were blown off a structure as a result of gale force wind conditions at 20341 Konyini Street, Nomzamo in Strand.
MACASSAR: It was reported at 16:58 on Friday, 30 November 2012 that the roof of an informal structure at 63 Japonica Way, Macassar was damaged as a result of gusting wind conditions.
SOMERSET WEST: At 08:45 on Saturday, 01 December 2012 the roof of a backyard dwelling were blown off at 3 Rose Street, Garden Village in Somerset West.
SIR LOWRY’S PASS: During the early hours of this morning a tree fell on a roof of an informal structure that was situated at 619 Van Aarde Street, Sun City Informal Settlement, in Sir Lowry’s Pass. The occupants fortunately evacuated out of the structure before the tree has fallen.
SIR LOWRY’S PASS: At approximately midday on Saturday, 01 December 2012 the gusting wind conditions blown down an informal structure at SP471 Uitkyk Informal Settlement in Sir Lowry’s Pass.
SIR LOWRY’S PASS: A tree collapsed on a roof on an informal structure at situated at 705 Mandela Drive, Sun City Informal Settlement, in Sir Lowry’s Pass around midday on Saturday, 01 December 2012.
No deaths or injuries had been reported by the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre.
The disaster response teams assisted the affected household that is indigent that called upon the City of Cape Town for assistance to remove trees and for the provision of social relief aid.
This morning [Saturday, 01 December 2012] the SA Weather Service downgraded the weather warning and subsequently issued a forecast for cloudy conditions with showers and thunder-showers expected for the Cape Peninsula.
This afternoon the weather warning was cancelled as there was a significant improvement in the weather system.
The Cape Peninsula can experience for the next few days cloud on the mountains, with partly cloudy conditions and in some places there will be clear skies.
The South African Weather Service will keep the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre informed regarding weather conditions, and further advice will be made available if and when required.
Residents are reminded to use the 107 number in the event of an emergency so that the nearest relevant emergency service provider can be dispatched. Dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive.
The reports of damage to infrastructure, trees blown down or service disruptions can be reported to the City’s Customer Contact Centre at 0860 103 089. Enquiries and/or complaints can also be sent via SMS to 31373. Enquiries and/or complaints regarding electricity fault reporting can be sent via SMS to 31220.
The City’s Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on roadways and deviations.
For further information and precautionary measures to prevent wind damage visit the website of the Disaster Risk Management Centre on www.capetown.gov.za/disaster.
End
* Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
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