Publications
Partners
The flash flooding that killed four people in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 19, 2011, serves as a reminder for South Africa's unpredictable storm systems, especially on the Highveld as winter draws to a close.
The Johannesburg area was hit by unseasonal winter storms in June 2011, which caused flooding in some areas and low-lying areas in the city, especially near the Jukskei River and low-lying roads and bridges, are prone to flooding in summer.
Storms in March and April also flooded parts of Pretoria, which put motorists at risk.
The Pittsburgh storm overwhelmed the city's sewer system when rush-hour traffic clogged low-lying streets.
FAMILY DROWNS
A mother and her two daughters died when they were trapped in their vehicle and rising water pinned it to a tree. Another woman's body was found in the Allegheny River.
Storms pounded the city with as much as 102mm of rain. The water drained onto Washington Boulevard, a main street near the Allegheny River on the city's east side with a force too great for two 2.7m sewer pipes to handle. The torrent blew off 27kg manhole covers.
"We had geysers here," said Raymond DeMichiei, deputy director of the city Office of Emergency Management.
"There's only so much any drainage system can handle," said Jim Struzzi, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman.
TIPS TO AVOID DROWNING
DeMichiei said emergency officials would discuss steps to avoid future flooding tragedies and then gave some advice South African drivers should heed...
"Educating people about the danger of being in a vehicle in a flash flood is key," he said. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has distilled its advice in such situations to a slogan: Turn around, don't drown."
"If water starts coming up the side of your car, get the hell out and get to higher ground," DeMichiei said.
"The water was so deep that rescuers in a boat floated over the Griffiths' car without realising it. The bottom of the boat didn't even scrape against the top of the car," DeMichiei said.
The Johannesburg area was hit by unseasonal winter storms in June 2011, which caused flooding in some areas and low-lying areas in the city, especially near the Jukskei River and low-lying roads and bridges, are prone to flooding in summer.
Storms in March and April also flooded parts of Pretoria, which put motorists at risk.
The Pittsburgh storm overwhelmed the city's sewer system when rush-hour traffic clogged low-lying streets.
FAMILY DROWNS
A mother and her two daughters died when they were trapped in their vehicle and rising water pinned it to a tree. Another woman's body was found in the Allegheny River.
Storms pounded the city with as much as 102mm of rain. The water drained onto Washington Boulevard, a main street near the Allegheny River on the city's east side with a force too great for two 2.7m sewer pipes to handle. The torrent blew off 27kg manhole covers.
"We had geysers here," said Raymond DeMichiei, deputy director of the city Office of Emergency Management.
"There's only so much any drainage system can handle," said Jim Struzzi, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman.
TIPS TO AVOID DROWNING
DeMichiei said emergency officials would discuss steps to avoid future flooding tragedies and then gave some advice South African drivers should heed...
"Educating people about the danger of being in a vehicle in a flash flood is key," he said. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has distilled its advice in such situations to a slogan: Turn around, don't drown."
"If water starts coming up the side of your car, get the hell out and get to higher ground," DeMichiei said.
"The water was so deep that rescuers in a boat floated over the Griffiths' car without realising it. The bottom of the boat didn't even scrape against the top of the car," DeMichiei said.
