NSRI teams rescue 31 people and animals in Wolseley and Gouda floods

Rapid response as heavy rains cut off communities

On Tuesday, May 12, NSRI Melkbosstrand and Headquarters Station 1 swift-water rescue crews were activated, together with rescue craft and equipment, to assist Overberg Disaster Risk Management, SAPS, Fire and Rescue Services, Provincial Traffic Services, Western Cape Government Health EMS, municipal authorities and community services in flood response operations.

Teams split to cover Wolseley and Gouda

Dean Wegerle of NSRI headquarters said the Headquarters team was dispatched to Wolseley while the Melkbosstrand team went to Gouda. NSRI rescue vehicles, rescue craft, rescue equipment, and swiftwater rescue swimmers were all deployed. The NSRI Headquarters swiftwater rescue team arrived first and linked up with operations controllers at the Wolseley police station.

Challenging conditions, multiple rescues

Wegerle said that before the NSRI teams arrived, “multiple persons and animals had been assisted by local police and the emergency services; however, there remained multiple scattered areas where persons and animals were trapped by flood waters.”

Operations were hindered by fast-flowing water, varying depths, debris in the current and difficult terrain including downed fences, trees and structures. The Headquarters team met police and an EMS rescue squad at a flooded bridge and split into two teams to assist across multiple areas separated by floodwaters.

Rescues from trees, homes and rooftops

Wegerle said one team helped two people reported to have been trapped in a tree since 6am; they were rescued at about 4pm. In addition, 11 people were rescued from flooded homes and transported to safety in relays using NSRI swift-water rescue swimmers and rescue craft together with emergency services.

Another NSRI team working along the Boointjies River evacuated two families 18 people and three dogs from their flooded homes. Wegerle reported that “in total, 31 persons were rescued in operations carried by NSRI in cooperation with the police and the emergency services in the Wolseley area, during the daylight hours, in a number of incidents.”

Continued effort into the night in Gouda

After completing assistance in Wolseley at about 7pm, the NSRI Headquarters team were diverted to Gouda by the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre once they regained cell signal. They were joined by the Melkbosstrand team and split into two teams to support police and emergency services in further flooded areas extending into farmlands.

Wegerle said that “during the night, the NSRI swift water rescue teams assisted the police and the emergency services in multiple incidents using the rescue crafts.” He added that throughout the operations families including babies, children, adults, the elderly and frail, and domestic animals were ferried in relays from homes, roofs and high-lying areas near homes in a coordinated effort with all services.

Operation concluded after waters subsided

In some cases, individuals chose not to be moved. Conditions began to improve during the night as waters subsided in places. Wegerle said the NSRI teams departed the area at midnight after it was deemed safe by authorities and all rescues and relocations had been successfully completed.

“From then on, during the night, the NSRI swift water rescue teams assisted the police and the emergency services in multiple incidents using the rescue crafts.”

Key facts:

• Date: Tuesday, May 12
• Location: Wolseley and Gouda, Western Cape
• People rescued: 31 in Wolseley (during daylight operations)
• Additional evacuations: families, babies, children, elderly, frail and domestic animals
• NSRI units involved: Melkbosstrand and Headquarters Station 1 swift-water rescue crews, rescue craft and equipment