Evacuation book launched
AFTER decades of being exposed to toxic industries that emit poisonous fumes, residents of the Durban South Basin area have come up with their own Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) in the form of a book.
The Merewest Community Foundation (MCF) launched the EEP book on Friday at the MTSS Hall in Merebank.
The non-profit organisation services the Navy area and Chinatown in Merebank and Lamontville.
Ranjan Kumar Deonath, author of the book, and his wife, Premilla, chairperson of the MCF, were motivated to compile the book when they realised that the elderly and vulnerable people were most at risk in the event of a disaster.
“We tried to get an EEP from the industries around us because there have been explosions, gas leaks, deadly chrome leaks and fires,” Ranjan said.
“Industries only have evacuation plans for their staff,” said Premilla.
“We also approached the ethekwini Municipality to assist us with an emergency evacuation plan for residents, but they did not provide this to us.
“We will, however, follow directions from the municipality in case of an emergency – and if not advised then we will follow our EEP,” said Premilla.
The organisation introduced the EEP to community leaders, security companies, businesses, and all role players for their input in March, prior to publication.
“During the April floods we implemented the EEP.
“In July we had a meeting with the Disaster Management unit and other role players. They advised us on the EEP and many industries were co-operative,” said Premilla.
The organisation developed a database of vulnerable people, including the elderly, the frail, those on oxygen and medical aid devices like walkers, prosthetics, wheelchairs, the visually impaired, and disabled or mentally challenged people.
This list will be given to first responders in a crisis so they will be safely removed before able-bodied people are assisted.
Ranjan explained the contents of the book.
“The book helps people deal with natural and man-made disasters. We have included ‘invacuation’ and evacuation plans with daily hazards. The evacuation maps are colour-coded so people can take different routes to evacuate.
“This will reduce congestion. There is a guide for an emergency go-bag, guidelines for during an unrest, emergency numbers and a DNA safety kit guide,” he said.
Councillor Sakhile Mngadi, deputy chair of the municipality Service Delivery Group, delivered a speech on behalf of Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda at the launch on Friday.
“In ethekwini, we are prone to severe weather conditions. We are confident that this book will create awareness within the community on how to save lives. We are hopeful that this initiative will be shared with other communities,” he said.
Professor Karthy Govender, a commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission, said the EEP contributed to social cohesion.
“Years ago, hundreds of thousands of people died in Bhopal because of an industrial emission of gas. People didn’t know what to do.
“If the people in India had this book at that time, the situation could have been different. This book initiative is exactly what we fought for in the Constitution,” said Govender.
According to the municipality’s Disaster Management Plan which features the South Durban Basin, the City’s emergency services would be on standby in the event of a disaster.