Lessons From The 'Flood'

By: Editorial Comment

COPIOUS rains that resulted in flooding in parts of Windhoek last weekend will cost the City an estimated N$5,6 million in repairs to damaged infrastructure, according to the Mayor and other officials.

In addition to the infrastructural damage, which includes road

surfaces, water lines and sewage systems, many residents of the

capital, particularly in the Dorado Park suburb, have also suffered

loss and damage to their homes and property.

A fund, which has been set up to help the City to repair damage,

will also go towards assisting flood victims.

 

Although about 40 families suffered losses during the heavy

rains, and although there will be quite considerable cost involved

in infrastructural rehabilitation in the wake of these rains, it

can also be said that loss of life and damage to infrastructure and

property could have been far worse than it was, and in some ways

the capital has got off lightly.

 

There are those who maintain, in some cases quite correctly,

that the damage could have been further limited by stricter

municipal regulations on, for example, dumping of waste and refuse

and clearing of riverbeds and courses.

 

This natural 'disaster' does serve as a warning to us all that

environmental awareness is vitally important, especially at times

like this.

 

And although a 'flood' is not something that happens with any

kind of regularity in our country, it is nevertheless an

eventuality that has to be prepared for, when and if it comes

again.

 

Of the 40 families who suffered damage and loss during the

flooding, 16 have been forced to leave their homes.

 

It is obviously a good thing that the City and others come

forward to assist those in need, but at the same time we would

appeal for consultation and consolidation in this regard, for

already other 'funds' are coming into existence; and someone needs

to account for how the money is spent and which families it is

given to on a properly-managed basis.

 

The flooding, for once, did not affect the totally destitute -

the homeless and the jobless - but affected in particular

homeowners in a certain low-lying development on the banks of the

Arebbusch River.

 

Any fundraising effort needs to target those with the least

resources and insurance to cover the costs of damage; and the fund

needs to be properly administered and managed, and arrangements

made for monies that are left once people have been assisted.

 

Perhaps efforts should be co-ordinated through the Municipal

fund to promote accountability in the long run, rather than through

a series of smaller funds set up by individuals and which could be

open to abuse.

 

On the infrastructural level, the Municipality does need to

address the issue of dumping, particularly in riverbeds, which is

unsightly at the best of times, but which can also precipitate

disaster when it comes to a season of heavy rains.

 

At the end of the day, without diminishing the losses and damage

that people and property have sustained; and even taking into

account the fact that aspects of our infrastructure will be in need

of repairs, that the combined cost of these, compared with the

benefits to our city and environs of the excellent rains that have

fallen this January, is still negligible.

 

What we need to do in future is ensure, that when and if this

happens again, that the city and its people are better prepared to

withstand, or at least minimise, the negative effects of

flooding.

 

A fund, which has been set up to help the City to repair damage,

will also go towards assisting flood victims. Although about 40

families suffered losses during the heavy rains, and although there

will be quite considerable cost involved in infrastructural

rehabilitation in the wake of these rains, it can also be said that

loss of life and damage to infrastructure and property could have

been far worse than it was, and in some ways the capital has got

off lightly. There are those who maintain, in some cases quite

correctly, that the damage could have been further limited by

stricter municipal regulations on, for example, dumping of waste

and refuse and clearing of riverbeds and courses. This natural

'disaster' does serve as a warning to us all that environmental

awareness is vitally important, especially at times like this. And

although a 'flood' is not something that happens with any kind of

regularity in our country, it is nevertheless an eventuality that

has to be prepared for, when and if it comes again. Of the 40

families who suffered damage and loss during the flooding, 16 have

been forced to leave their homes. It is obviously a good thing that

the City and others come forward to assist those in need, but at

the same time we would appeal for consultation and consolidation in

this regard, for already other 'funds' are coming into existence;

and someone needs to account for how the money is spent and which

families it is given to on a properly-managed basis. The flooding,

for once, did not affect the totally destitute - the homeless and

the jobless - but affected in particular homeowners in a certain

low-lying development on the banks of the Arebbusch River. Any

fundraising effort needs to target those with the least resources

and insurance to cover the costs of damage; and the fund needs to

be properly administered and managed, and arrangements made for

monies that are left once people have been assisted. Perhaps

efforts should be co-ordinated through the Municipal fund to

promote accountability in the long run, rather than through a

series of smaller funds set up by individuals and which could be

open to abuse. On the infrastructural level, the Municipality does

need to address the issue of dumping, particularly in riverbeds,

which is unsightly at the best of times, but which can also

precipitate disaster when it comes to a season of heavy rains. At

the end of the day, without diminishing the losses and damage that

people and property have sustained; and even taking into account

the fact that aspects of our infrastructure will be in need of

repairs, that the combined cost of these, compared with the

benefits to our city and environs of the excellent rains that have

fallen this January, is still negligible. What we need to do in

future is ensure, that when and if this happens again, that the

city and its people are better prepared to withstand, or at least

minimise, the negative effects of flooding.

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