UPDATE:
Following heavy rainfall causing rising waters, flood conditions and other related incidents, at 19h30, Saturday, 14th July, NSRI Port Elizabeth rescue volunteers were activated to join the Eastern Cape Disaster Management and the emergency services. NSRI rescuers evacuated 3 people at Kleinskool and at rising and flood conditions at Chetty, Kwadesi and at other Northern areas of Port Elizabeth.According to NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers wind speeds picked up to approximately 25 knots adding to the fray. Numerous trees have been blown over blocking roads, emergency services have had to deal with a number of related motor vehicle accidents and NSRI volunteers are spread out across the area to assist the Disaster teams.ORIGINAL RELEASE:Saturday14 July: NSRI volunteer rescue crews along parts of the Western Cape, Southern Cape and Eastern Cape were placed on high alert during the early hours of Saturday, 14th July, following the SA Weather Service advice of heavy rainfalls and in some isolated incidents of low-lying areas cut off or flooded by rising waters and river floods. So far only a few isolated incidents have seen NSRI duty crews mobilized to assist with incidents.The SA Weather office issued warnings of very cold conditions, snow and heavy rainfall across parts of these regions and very big swells from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay and extending further North East up the coast towards the Eastern Cape.NSRI Knysna assisted to evacuate 4 people cut off by rising waters at Red Bridge on the Knysna river and a further 4 people were rescued by NSRI Knysna at Cranmere following similar incidents of low lying areas cut off by rising waters and no injuries were recorded in these incidents.Boaters and fishermen between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are urged to exercise caution, wear their life-jackets at all times at sea and have their safety equipment and safety kits handy at all times while at sea.Unofficial NSRI rainfall readings suggest up to 70mm of rainfall in Stilbaai and 80 mm of rainfall in Plettenberg Bay over the past 24 hours.The NSRI echo the Eastern Cape Municipal Disaster Management advice, issued earlier, for those living along low lying areas to have dry clothes and blankets stored in water tight plastic bags ready to be taken along in case any evacuations became necessary.The NSRI High Alert status for these areas remains in place until the heavy rainfall subsides.
