Update: Flooding in George

George Municipality is making an urgent appeal for people to stay at home if they can as heavy rain and extensive flooding is causing road closures and other issues across the city.

Motorists to please avoid the following roads:

• Langenhoven Street
• Hope Street
• St. Mary Street
• R102 (Airport Road)
• Fiegland Street, Borchards
• Merriman Street closed from Laing Street to Union Street
• Saasveld Road closed

ELECTRICITY
Power outages in areas across the city. The municipality is attending. We appeal for your patience as safety issues may impact our electricians’ ability to deal with certain matters.

TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT
George Municipality Drivers Licence Testing Centre is currently closed due to a power outage. The municipality will update when reopening. Motor Vehicle Registration offices in Hibernia Street are open.

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
New Housing offices are closed today.

REFUSE REMOVAL DELAYED
Refuse removal started late due to flooding. The municipality will get to as many areas as possible but will advise any alternative arrangements. Today’s collection areas are Blanco, Riverlea, Heatherpark, Heatherlands, Glen Barrie, Kraaibosch, Groenkloof, Blue Mountain Village, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay and Rondevlei area (George side).

PHONE LINES AFFECTED
Some administrative phone lines connectivity is intermittent. Please try again if you are not immediately successful.

Report flood-related incidents to:

• George Municipality All-Hour Emergencies 044 801 6300
• George Municipality Disaster Management 044 801 6316
• George Municipality Electricity-related 044 801 9222
• Garden Route District Disaster Management 044 805 5071

Flood update from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Joint Operations Centre (JOC):

1. GEORGE
The following roads are currently closed and affected:

• CJ Langenhoven Road
• Wellington Street
• Cradock Street
• Hope Street – families evacuated
• Merriman Street closed due to road failure – families rescued earlier.
• Seven Passes Road in Saasveld close due to a massive sinkhole in the road.
• Dormelsdrif: Stormwater overflowing heavily.
• Denneoord: Eight (8) vehicles with passengers were rescued earlier

All major and national roads are still open.

2. OUDTSHOORN
Heavy rainfall – all low-lying bridges are closed. Provincial Traffic despatched to monitor Meiringspoort.

3. HESSEQUA
Emergency personnel currently monitoring the situation. No flood damage reported yet.

4. MOSSEL BAY
Emergency personnel currently monitoring the situation. Heavy rainfall reported. Provincial Traffic Department dispatched to the Robinson Pass to monitor it.

5. BITOU
Emergency personnel currently monitoring the situation. Heavy rainfall reported.

• Roads affected:
  Green Oak Rd
• Wittedrift Rd
• Gqamlana Rd

6. KNYSNA
Emergency personnel currently monitoring the situation. Heavy rainfall reported.

7. KANNALAND
Emergency personnel currently monitoring the situation. No flood damage reported yet.

GRDM urgently appeals for the public to stay at home if they can as heavy rain and extensive flooding is causing road closures and other issues across the city.

They would also like to encourage the public to report all flood-related incidents to the 24/7 Emergency Call Centre of GRDM on 044 805 5071.