#CapeStorm happens every year‚ say disaster researchers

Between 2003 and 2014 the Cape experienced no fewer than 12 disasters linked to similar climatic phenomena‚ according to a report published in 2016 by the Research Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction.

“High-impact weather conditions and damaging floods are not ‘rare events’‚” said the report from the alliance‚ based in the department of geography and environmental studies at Stellenbosch University.

According to the report‚ cut-off low weather systems occur almost annually and result in extensive financial losses.

“From 2003-2014‚ R4.9-billion in flood-related damage was reported by government departments and municipalities. Of this‚ R 2.3-billion was due to agricultural costs‚” it said.

“From 2003-2014‚ Hessequa Local Municipality in Eden reported damage for eight of the 12 events and cumulative losses of R178-million. George reported R178-million in damage for six events and Knysna recorded R142-million for five disasters. 

“Twenty-three lives were reportedly lost‚ with more than 30 800 people affected or evacuated. Outside of the Cape Town Metro‚ the Langeberg Municipality reported the largest number of residents affected or evacuated (6 400).

“Results indicate that inland residents are at increased flash-flood risk‚ especially in the Langeberg and Laingsburg municipalities. Meiringspoort also represents an identifiable flash-flood hot-spot.

“Critical facilities and essential services are at risk. In the 2012 and 2013 cut-off low-induced disasters alone‚ impacts included the loss of an ambulance attendant on duty and a hospital evacuation‚ while wind/ rain damage were reported for 23 schools within the City of Cape Town.”

The report said more rigorous infrastructural damage assessment procedures introduced in 2011 had reduced the “range‚ specificity and accuracy of reported losses. This has weakened the quality of municipal and provincial disaster risk surveillance.”