Floods and Damages

[Richprins]

Interesting...all sorts of things apparently found when the staff villages were evacuated....

More later under another thread!

[nan]

which kind

[Richprins]

Let's just wait a day or two, nana!

[Richprins]

Today's Lowvelder:

Shingwedzi a few days back!

[Toko]

It will take ages to be re-opend

[Flutterby]

Poor Shingwedzi!!

[nan]

oups

[Richprins]

Once again we have been blessed with a few dry days, if that makes any sense?

But this one was bad!

PLEASE HELP

Major floods hit the Northern part of South Africa. Kruger National Park and Mapungubwe National Parks have been severely affected by these floods.

In Mapungubwe camps were flooded and several staff members lost their possessions when their accommodation was flooded.

In Kruger, Shingwedzi camp was entirely flooded and severe damage was caused. The staff village, home to some 250 people was entirely flooded. Staff members had to be evacuated by helicopter. Staff members lost all their possessions and left only with the clothes on their bodies.



Fortunately no one has died or been seriously injured. All these people have been severely traumatised. SANParks has provided the people with trauma counselling and supplied the initial needs of food, etc.

SANParks has asked the SANParks Honorary Rangers to head up the relief effort for these members of staff.

There will be an opportunity on the 1st of February for members of the public to donate clothes, blankets and non-perishable foods. This will take place at King David School in Johannesburg at 10:00.

Members of the public are welcome to deliver items to reception at Phalaborwa Gate of Kruger National Park. Here it will be received by the Bushveld Region of the SANParks Honorary Rangers and distributed to those in need.

The main focus of the relief effort will be to raise funds to supply the flood victims with basic items such as beds, mattresses, blankets and school clothing. SANParks has identified a list of needs to be supplied. These items are best bought in bulk as it ensures that the correct items are bought and makes the logistics much easier to manage.

All money raised will be managed by the SANParks Honorary Rangers. As part of our standard financial practice not a sent raised will be used to cover costs or be used for other purposes.

There are only two ways where the public should donate to this cause:

Money can be donated via the SANParks Honorary Rangers Flood account and GivenGain.

SANParks Honorary Rangers,
Nedbank,
Branch: Die Heuwel, Witbank,
Branch Code: 158-550,
Account No: 1585-392-448,
Account Type: Current
Reference Code: Flood

It is important to use the reference "Flood".

Or via our GivenGain payment system.

Thank you for your support!

It is now an opportunity to look after the people who look after the parks we love so much!

Louis Lemmer
SANParks Honorary Rangers
NEC

[Richprins]

Water levels still remain high

Even though the rain has stopped, water levels are still dangerous.

24 January 2013 | Clara Lourens

NELSPRUIT - Even though water levels are stabilising, the flow in rivers still remains high and residents are urged to be cautious.


The MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Mr Madala Masuku, conveyed his condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones during the recent floods in a press release on Tuesday. "The rain has stopped and water levels are expected to stabilise. However, the department would like to warn residents that water levels remain very high, therefore residents are urged to be cautious when crossing any rivers and bridges by vehicle or by foot."


Masuku stated that technical teams from provincial, district and local municipalities had been dispatched to affected areas to assess damage caused by the rain. "Preliminary reports indicate that damage has been caused to roads, internal streets and two bridges. Many houses were also water-logged in Nkomazi and Bushbuckrigde," the report read.


Restoring any basic services that may have been disrupted, as well as creating accessibility in areas that might have been cut off, is the department's immediate priority and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport is already working with local municipalities to restore these services.


Masuku reiterated the department's plea for parents to avoid letting children cross rivers or bridges to and from school and to rather use alternative roads.


"None of the incidents have affected of the Afcon preparations and plans for the games taking place in Mbombela. Municipalities, district and provincial disaster management teams remain on full alert," Masuku said.

[Richprins]

Lowvelder Newspaper and Looklocal old and new news combined!:

Aftermath of floods in KNP

Most camps and tarred roads have been reopened.

23 January 2013 | Clara Lourens

SKUKUZA - An astounding 138 people were airlifted to safety from the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Sunday and Monday.


The KNP Disaster Management Team was in charge of the rescue and evacuation throughout the park and the Provincial Disaster Management assisted the SAPS and SANDF.


It was confirmed that two Oryx rescue helicopters were deployed to Hoedspruit and aided in 138 airlifts at Shingwedzi. The team's priority was to save people in life-threatening situations, and other rescue teams could attend to less serious incidents.


WO Danie Theron and WO André de Lange, police divers stationed at White River's dog unit, conducted the operations in the Onyx helicopters on Monday.
They had driven to Hazyview, where a police helicopter collected them and took them to Skukuza. From there, they left for Shingwedzi on the Onyx.


According to Mr Stephens Ledwaba, spokesman for the KNP, the southern parts were not as badly affected and the Disaster Management Team is currently assessing the situation on the ground to determine the impact of the heavy rain.


The following camps still remain closed:
• Bateleur
• Balule
• Biyamiti
• Maroela
• Roodewal
• Shimuwini
• Shingwedzi
• Shipindane Hide
• Sirheni
• Sable Dam Hide
• Talamati
• Tamboti
• Tsendze


Roads still closed:
• H1-1 Skukuza to Pretoriuskop
• Olifants River causeway at Balule
• H1-2 causeway over Sabi and Sand Rivers between Skukuza and Tshokwane (Alternatively use H4-1 and H12)
• H7 Orpen to Satara
• Shingwedzi camp and day visitor site
• H1-7 Shingwedzi to Punda Maria/Pafuri


Pafuri gate is the only one that remains closed. However, only Orpen camp can be accessed through Orpen gate, as the rest of the park cannot yet be accessed from there. The same is the case for the Punda Maria gate and camp.

"Most of the roads, camps and gates will reopen as soon as an evaluation has been done. The good news is that it is no longer raining and the water is subsiding. Staff members are busy cleaning and clearing the roads that were affected," says Ledwaba.

By Wednesday, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre confirmed that all resources have been withdrawn from the KNP and that the main focus has now shifted to the Afcon games at Mbombela.

21 January 2012

Tourists had to be brought to safety after heavy rains had flooded roads and camps within the Kruger National Park (KNP) this weekend.


According to Mr Stephens Ladwaba, spokesman for KNP, some of the camps and gravel roads in the southern part of the park had to be closed. Northern parts of the Kruger also experienced heavy rain, which lead to the closing of all bush camps and the temporary closing of gravel roads.


The park's regional general manager: Marula, Ms Lucy Nhlapo, said on Saturday that they were pleased to announce that there had not been any report of loss or threat to human life.


"Some of our visitors who were trapped were airlifted to the nearest camps. We urge visitors to refrain from crossing overflowing rivers and to always stay alert at all times."


By Monday morning, Nhlapo could confirm the following incidents:

• The low-level bridge to staff and ranger houses at Tshokwane was reported as overflowing, resulting in staff trapped at picnic sites and others at their houses. No lives were threatened.
• Eleven tourists who were trapped on the Olifants and Sweni trails had been safely airlifted to Satara.
• Tamboti camp was currently isolated with eight guests and staff. The water levels were constantly monitored and a rescue plan would be executed to airlift them to Satara.
• Talamati and Biyamiti camps had been closed and guests were safely moved to Satara and Berg-en-Dal.
• Four patrol rangers and a SANDF unit were stuck in the area. They were in constant contact with the section ranger and would be assisted soon.
• Four guests and one staff member had been airlifted from Muzanzane.
• All guests were evacuated from Shingwedzi to Mopani last night. 70 staff members are currently being evacuated.
The following roads had been affected by the water:
• H1/1 link road between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop had been closed off due to the heavy current over the low-level bridge.
• Crocodile Bridge Gate was overflowing and as a result the camp had been isolated and no cars were allowed through.


Nhlapo had reiterated her appeal to all visitors to stick to the tarred roads as all gravel roads had been closed for safety reasons. Skukuza Rest Camp, the largest in the park, was still reported to be in order. The Nwatsishaka River level was rising slowly, but flowing steadily.


The low-level bridge was closed due to water overflowing at high velocity and the high-level bridge was constantly being monitored.


Nhlapo concluded that KNP's emergency plans were running according to plan and that personnel were on high alert. She urged the public to contact the 24-hour emergency hotline if they required an update.


Enquiries: KNP emergency services
on 013-735-4325.