GEORGE NEWS - While a prayer day for rain is being planned in George for Friday 16 December, a heavy downpour in parts of the Garden Route district on Monday night, 12 December, caused localised flash floods.
In George, a home in Rosemoor and another in Parkdene were damaged by floods. Parts of Calitzdorp were flooded, affecting homes on the outskirts of the town. Residents had to evacuate to higher ground.
According to the Garden Route Disaster Management centre, the flood there was caused by the wall of a small dam collapsing. Several roads around Calitzdorp that are serviced by Garden Route District Municipality have been impacted by the floods.
Patches and stretches of gravel are gone and a detailed assessment is underway to establish the extent of the damage.
In Oudtshoorn two homes in Bridgton and two informal structures at the GG Camp were damaged and in Mossel Bay, sections of Campher Street were inaccessible due to flash floods.
The provincial traffic department closed the N2 between Great Brak River and Little Brak River in the direction of Mossel Bay after sand and sediment were deposited on the road and a truck crashed into a heap of sand. Residents were cautioned to stay home and avoid roads. The N2 was reopened early on Tuesday morning.
Meiringspoort, that was closed on Monday night in anticipation of floods headed there from the Central Karoo, was also reopened early on Tuesday.
According to the South African Weather Service, George received 12,5mm (measured at the airport) on Monday, Mossel Bay 24,8mm, Oudtshoorn 15,2mm, Uniondale 30mm, Knysna Diepwalle 5,6mm and Plettenberg Bay 35,6mm.
Oudtshoorn Courant reports that about 70mm fell in Calitzdorp,
Prayer day at Garden Route Dam
The level of the Garden Route Dam stood at 45,86% on Tuesday morning, 13 December (down from 47,88% on Wednesday 7 December). Last year in November, the dam overflowed and parts of the city experienced flooding.
Below average rainfall over the past few months, the warmer weather and ongoing semigration of people to George are all factors impacting on the water storage level.
Pastor Ockie Taylor was approached by the Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag) to help organise a prayer day for rain.
"I agreed and approached Mayor Leon van Wyk who had no objections. I have also approached a few other churches and we are trying to advertise the invitation as far and wide as possible," he says.
All denominations are welcome. "The Lord says we must call on Him in the day of trouble, He will deliver us, and we must honour Him, and that is what we want to do. There will not be a formal programme, but we will form small groups that will pray together."
The mayor also invited churches to support the prayer day. "I felt compelled to make this plea to the churches because we all need to come together to pray for those showers of blessings that we so desperately need," said Van Wyk.
He warned that water consumption will increase due to an influx of visitors during the holiday period. "As everyone pleads and prays for rain, I am reminded of the Bible verse in James 5:18, 'And he prayed again, and heaven gave rain and the earth produced its fruit'."
For more information on the prayer event, phone Pastor Taylor on 082 448 3050.
On Tuesday morning, the South African Weather Service predicted a 60% chance for rain in George on Thursday and Friday.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
