Flood warnings for metro

THE South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued warnings of heavy rains, which could result in flooding in the Buffalo City region today and tomorrow.

SAWS senior forecaster Quinton Jacobs said that the Eastern Cape would be affected by a weather system moving across the country by late morning today, and good rainfall could be expected over the eastern half of the province. He added that the heavy rain was likely to result in flooding in low-lying areas.

Jacobs warned that flash floods were often associated with thundershowers, which may “also result in river flooding causing damage downstream to areas that may receive no rainfall at all during the flooding event”.

The Port Alfred area was forecast to have at least 25mm of rain today, while the East London coastline to the Wild Coast would have 20mm rain. Further north, from about Coffee Bay upwards, a rainfall of 30mm has been forecast.

Inland, the KwaZulu-Natal border is expected to have 40mm of rainfall, while the area from Mthatha to Aliwal North is expected to have 30mm.

Jacobs issued precautions for travellers and BCM residents to take heed of over the weekend:

If possible, stay indoors and off the roads, avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles;

If trapped in flooding in a vehicle, abandon the vehicle and climb to higher ground;

Ensure that drains are clear of litter;

Use sand or cement to raise the threshold of structures that may experience problems with storm water;

In buildings, move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level and switch off electricity at the supply point to the building;

In rural areas, protect and relocate animals to a safe place on higher ground; and

If evacuation is recommended, abandon your home immediately before access is cut off by water.

Owen Becker of BCM disaster management said life threatening emergencies must be reported to the Fire Brigade at (043) 705 9000. — michelles@dispatch.co.za