GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Although most of the stormy weather has now passed, the run-off of rain from the Great Karoo remains an area of concern to be monitored by Disaster Management teams throughout the region.
In most areas to the north, the river levels are dropping, but in the southern parts of the district this water is only reaching the sea from today and farmers have been alerted to remove irrigation equipment from low-lying areas near flooded rivers.
In addition, people have been warned not to cross any low-water flooded structures as well as to stay clear of roads clearly marked as being closed.
Dam levels
Current dam levels are as follows:
- Duiwenhoks Dam – 103.02%
- Calitzdorp Dam – 101.25%
- Oukloof Dam – 101.81%
- Gamka Dam – 86.06%
- Gamka poort Dam – 117.40%
- Kamanassie Dam – 97.50%
- Wolwedans Dam – 101.05%
- Korrente Vet Dam – 102.48%
- Garden Route Dam - 100%
Roads closures
The Garden Route Roads Services conduct daily assessments on the status quo of rural roads and updates will be provided by midday daily.
Please refer to the GRDM Facebook page for updates.
Housing
Local Municipal housing sections are still busy with assessments to determine if and where emergency sheltering is required.
Residents are requested to contact their local municipality’s housing department in order to report any needs.
Humanitarian-Relief
As a result of the Gamkapoort dam overflowing, GRDM, in collaboration with Give of the Givers and Air Mercy Services (AMS), will distribute food parcels and medication to residents of Matiesvlei near Calitzdorp as well as to residents in the Gamkapoort (Die Hel) area.
Give of the Givers also distributed 800 blankets in the Oudtshoorn area as well as hygiene packs and baby food in the Wilderness and Sedgefield areas. In addition, they have assisted soup kitchens in Knysna.
Furthermore, they also assisted communities in De Rust, Dysseldorp, Calitsdorp, Zoar, Ladismith, and Van Wyksdorp with humanitarian relief.
At this stage, the Garden Route District Disaster Management Centre is not aware of any other communities displaced by the severe weather.
Report weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.
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