20/05/2022
⚠️ Media Release: Cut-off low to bring cold and wet weather to large parts of South Africa from Thursday into the weekend (19-21 May 2022).
Severe Weather Warnings has been issued for the larger part of the country for the coming weekend.
The Department is issuing these preparation and response measures as ground saturation is occurring due to more frequent rains received during this period. This might lead to localized flooding and structural damages to life and property.
Severe Storm Preparedness Checklist
• Build an emergency kit and make a family emergency plan. Ensure that you have emergency numbers of the Ward Councillor, CDW, Police, Emergency Medical and Fire Services, as well as your Local Disaster Management Unit.
• Know your surroundings, know the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone or in a natural storm flow path.
• Create and save the GPS location of your property on WhatsApp, this can be shared with authorities to reach it sooner. (This is revered to as a PIN-DROP, the same should be applied if people are swept away by storm surges.)
• Identify rivers, streams and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
• Learn community storm evacuation routes and how to find higher ground
• Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate
• Make plans to secure your property and vital documents are secured
• Ensure family members are accounted for and safe
• Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
• Do not walk in severe weather, even if you know the route
• Cover all of your home's windows with wood or carton
• Install ropes, wires, straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure
• Ensure pets and live stock is safe and accounted for.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant
• Clear loose debris and clogged rain gutters and downspouts
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage
• Plan to bring in/secure all outdoor furniture, decorations, refuse bins and or anything else that is not tied down
• Determine how and where to secure your vehicle
• Install a generator for power outages, or ensure sufficient light sources, cheap LED lights last longer and are much safer than candles, especially with children.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on the lowest floor
• Listen to the radio or TV for information and keep your weather radio handy
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed
• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets: fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water
• Keep food safe and during and after an emergency
• Treat all electrical installations as live.
• Report missing persons and damages as soon as possible to the authorities
You should evacuate under the following conditions:
- If you are directed by local authorities to do so, and be sure to follow their instructions
- If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure — such shelter are particularly hazardous during cyclone no matter how well fastened to the ground
- If you live in a high-rise building —winds are stronger at higher elevations
- If you live near a river or on an inland waterway
- If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:
Stay indoors during the cyclone and away from windows and glass doors
Close all interior doors, secure and brace external door
Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a quiet; it could be the eye of the storm and winds could pick up again
Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object if safe to do so. ONLY IF IT IS NOT AT FLOOD RISK
Issued by the Mpumalanga Disaster Management Centre
