Weskus faced a series of severe weather events including disruptive rain and damaging wind and waves.
These severe storms saturated the soil, particularly in mountainous areas, setting the stage for more dangerous conditions which threatened low-lying areas such as Matzikama. The disaster and emergency management teams were activated from its Joint Operations Centres which closely monitored the weather and road conditions.
When nature tests the resilience of a region, preparedness, coordination, and collaboration become the strongest tools at our disposal. This winter, the West Coast Disaster Management Centre’s Emergency Response and Prevention Centre (ERPOC) once again proved to be the backbone of safety and response operations.
“The ERPOC team coordinated continuous communication and response efforts across Saldanha Bay, Swartland, Bergrivier, Cederberg, and Matzikama Municipalities. Through real-time reporting, WhatsApp groups, and 24/7 control room monitoring, stakeholders stayed informed and aligned, ensuring no area was left behind.
This was not just a response. It was a united team effort built on trust, preparation, and partnership”, says Weskus Distrik’s ERPOC head Franquin Petersen.
Franquin Petersen
Head of ERPOC, Weskus Distrik.
