Thousands displaced by Cape Town flooding

[schumi]

Cape Town - Thousands of people have been displaced by flooding in informal settlements in Cape Town, disaster management has said.

Informal settlements in Khayelitsha, Phillipi and Gugulethu have been flooded following heavy rain this past weekend, spokesperson Charlotte Powell said.

So far, 1 600 shacks with 6 500 residents have been affected.

No emergency sheltering has been activated, however, as residents have opted to stay with family and friends she said.

But emergency sheltering was available in community halls.

NGO’s Mustadafin Foundation, the SA Red Cross Society and Historical Disadvantage Individuals were helping with hot meals, blankets and clothing, Powell said.

No injuries had been reported.

The city posted on its Facebook page that in the event of flooding, residents can call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone for help.

It also posted tips on how to prepare against flooding, which can be found here: http://bit.ly/Floods_Infographic

Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/thousands-displaced-by-cape-town-flooding-20160620

 

[MickeyD]

The city posted on its Facebook page that in the event of flooding, residents can call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone for help.

 

[Rocket Raccoon]

May have mixed the two up.

 

[noxibox]

May have mixed the two up.

Nope.

Welcome to the Emergency Services website

 

[konfab]

All I can say is that this is the result of atrocious infrastructure management. A few months ago Cape Town had a water supply problem.

 

[Rocket Raccoon]

Nope.

Welcome to the Emergency Services website

Oh. I'm used to 3 digit numbers on cellphones

 

[NeonNinja]

Is it true Zimbabwe have no shacks?

 

[McSack]

All I can say is that this is the result of atrocious infrastructure management. A few months ago Cape Town had a water supply problem.

You do realise that these are informal settlements sitting on top of high water tables in sandy areas? Just getting the kind of infrastructure into these areas needed to sort out the ground water is a nightmare... never mind "managing" the infrastructure

It's a very sad situation. Too many people settling on land that isn't really suited for habitation (never mind super-high density living) in the first place.

 

[Nerfherder]

All I can say is that this is the result of atrocious infrastructure management. A few months ago Cape Town had a water supply problem.

I think you are confused.

Cape Town is a swamp, its flat and at sea level. When it rains there is no where for the water to go and it floods (especially on the flats). This happens every time there is a lot of rain.
Water supply issues before were due to two consecutive dry winters and two really hot summers.

This is a climate issue - not a infrastructure issue.

 

[Spizz]

All I can say is that this is the result of atrocious infrastructure management. A few months ago Cape Town had a water supply problem.

Good grief. Hundreds of thousands of people occupy land illegally, build a shack and claim human rights when the city tries to remove it, and now it's the cities fault it's flooding?

 

[Nerfherder]

Good grief. Hundreds of thousands of people occupy land illegally, build a shack and claim human rights when the city tries to remove it, and now it's the cities fault it's flooding?

Remember a lot more people were settled there, the people who occupy that land illegally are refugees

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

This is a climate issue - not a infrastructure issue.

So you're saying god is a racist? :twisted:

 

[Kelerei]

The city posted on its Facebook page that in the event of flooding, residents can call 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone for help.

Do those still exist?

 

[TrueSeeker]

All I can say is that this is the result of atrocious infrastructure management. A few months ago Cape Town had a water supply problem.

Much of the informal settlements in question sprouted up in the wrong place from the start. They should have been above the flood water table. It's impossible to provide ideal sanitation, sewerage, or water provision in areas like that.

Efforts to relocate residents to better locations are ongoing, however due to a positive population inflow from other provinces it will be a long time before that is done.

The area in question should be cleared and rehabilitated as a natural wetlands area region.

 

[Jola]

The area in question should be cleared and rehabilitated as a natural wetlands area region.

That^

Will then be regarded as racist, however.

 

[Nerfherder]

So you're saying god is a racist? :twisted:

Either that or does not exist.

 

[Azbubu]

Move them all to Bishopscourt.

 

[C4Cat]

I think you are confused.

Cape Town is a swamp, its flat and at sea level. When it rains there is no where for the water to go and it floods (especially on the flats). This happens every time there is a lot of rain.
Water supply issues before were due to two consecutive dry winters and two really hot summers.

This is a climate issue - not a infrastructure issue.

If this happens every time there is a lot of rain (almost every year) then we need infrastructure to channel this water to holding containers rather than flooding in the winter and water supply issues in the summer.

 

[Nerfherder]

If this happens every time there is a lot of rain (almost every year) then we need infrastructure to channel this water to holding containers rather than flooding in the winter and water supply issues in the summer.

LOL.

To where ?

The rain is falling down and pooling where it is.

 

[daveza]

If this happens every time there is a lot of rain (almost every year) then we need infrastructure to channel this water to holding containers rather than flooding in the winter and water supply issues in the summer.

They are not going to provide infrastructure in an area unsuitable for anyone to live.