'Worst storm in 30 years' hits Herold's Bay

GEORGE NEWS - Tons of sea sand and thousands of litres of water had to be cleared from seafront homes and Beach Road at Herold's Bay after the high springtides and stormy weather on Saturday 16 September - believed to be the worst in 30 years.

There was extensive damage to municipal infrastructure and private properties, according to Chantél Edwards, head of communications at George Municipality.

"The sewerage pump station was affected, stand-by generators flooded and bridges, roadways, sidewalks and retaining walls were damaged. Alternative sewerage arrangements are already done to ensure and prevent a breach," said Edwards.

A section of the breakwater also collapsed.

On Monday, while trucks and digger loaders were clearing away beach sand and sea water was being pumped from garages and basements, residents and cleaners were putting out wet belongings, carpets and furniture to dry.

Garage doors were ripped out by the force of the water and gardens also got a battering. Where accommodation establishments had guests, they had to be evacuated and put up elsewhere.

JHB visitor 'got a lot of water'

Rochelle Sandler, a visitor from Johannesburg, said she and her husband came to Nagenoeg Beach Cottage on the seafront for a recoup after she had had a serious bout of Covid.

"We have not been to the Cape for some 11 years and all we wanted to do was sit and enjoy the lovely view over the water, and we sure got a lot of water! We were at Dutton's Cove when the big waves hit and were not able to get back to our accommodation. We had to sleep over at Dutton's Cove and only on Sunday were we allowed to fetch my medication and a change of clothes. We have a tiny rental car and it would have been swept away if we had been home when the storm peaked," she said.

On Monday, the couple was allowed to resume their stay at the cottage.

Garages at Waves of Grace under water.

Huge fright

Sandra Greyling, manager of Waves of Grace guest house, said she got a huge fright when the fire brigade ordered her to evacuate on Saturday. "By the time I got into the car, the garage was ankle deep in water. Fortunately our guests were out on a day trip. When we were finally allowed back, we could not enter from the front and had to climb over the verandah from our neighbour's stoep. We suffered a lot of damage to appliances that were being stored in the garage. People were wonderful in their support. Guests phoned from over the country to ask if they could support us in any way and friends came to help us clean up."

Hannelie Fourie, owner of Oppiesee Self-catering Apartments, said she has not experienced such a storm in the 30 years that they have lived there. "We have had high seas before, but not like this."

Their garage was under water, but the garage door was saved as she had opened it when she realised the severity of the storm. The water went over their garden wall and into one of the ground floor apartments. "All the time I was trying to mop up in the flat, but it was a hopeless case," said Fourie.

On Monday she was in the garden trying to save some plants and getting the premises ready to receive guests for the coming long weekend.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she and a helper were moving pot plants further back from the front of the garden when a huge wave hit. Her dog was swept up by the water, but fortunately only down the road and not over the breakwater into the ocean.

Sand, sand, sand everywhere. George Municipality started cleaning up in Herold's Bay on Monday. Photos: Alida de Beer

Compliments to municipality

A resident who wished to remain anonymous complimented the George Municipality for their quick response and mopping-up operations.

Edwards said Community Services, Electrotechnical Services and Civil Engineering Services have been working together since Monday to clean up and assess the damage on the George beaches. The value of the damages to municipal property and infrastructure was still being determined as clean-up operations continued.