O R Tambo’s rapid alerts for disasters

Council to install warning system

MUNICIPAL bosses in O R Tambo district are planning to install early warning systems to avoid or manage disasters caused by extreme weather conditions.

About 200 volunteers from villages around the district have also been roped in to assist disaster awareness campaigns. They are paid a monthly stipend, according to district municipal spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa.

An additional 120 volunteers will be appointed before the end of the current financial year.

The district is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the province.

In 2013, killer floods which hit the area left behind a trail of destruction, with nearly 2 000 people displaced after their homes were swept away or submerged in water.

Several bridges used by villagers in some rural parts and access roads were also damaged, and re-building of damaged infrastructure was estimated to cost R500-million.

Lungisa said the district authority had budgeted millions of rands in the current financial year to deal with impending disasters.

This included a R10-million investment in renovating an under-resourced building that currently houses the disaster risk management centre.

“[On completion] the building will house a multi-functional disaster communication centre, offices and a boardroom,” said Lungisa.

“Provision will also be made for physically disabled people to be able to use the facility.”

The spokesman also indicated that another site near Mthatha Airport had been earmarked to build a disaster management and fire services centre.

“Processes to acquire the piece of land are underway,”

Among other innovations, the municipality was currently spending in the region of R700 000 to install severe weather early warning systems throughout the district.

Lungisa said as part of the first phase, an integrated hybrid weather station with close-circuit television camera-monitoring capabilities, had been installed in Mthatha.

A similar station and three CCTVmonitoring units were also intended to cover PSJ’s urban centre and some of its beaches and rural villages.

A further investment of R5-million in the form of a high-tech disaster information management and communication system had been spent in PSJ.

The spokesman said around R1.8million would also be spent this financial year on sprucing up disaster satellite offices in Mhlontlo and Ingquza Hill.

These were meant to ensure that disaster risk management services were brought closer to communities and ensure swift response to disaster scenes. —