Central SA
Workshop in Welkom to discuss climate hazards─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:23 Wed, 28 Feb 2024
“This is to ensure that communities effectively confront the multifaceted challenges posed by ever-evolving climate patterns.”
For some years now, the Free State has experienced unusually high precipitation, along with strong thunderstorms and hail, which have severely damaged homes, buildings, crops, and plants.
This then prompted the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to host a workshop to close the gap between risk management driven by climate change and strengthening community resilience at the Omari Lodge on Wednesday (28/2).
The attendees are doing an exercise to identify the hazards in Lejweleputswa. Photo supplied
“South Africa is among the southern African countries that are susceptible to hazardous weather and negative climate change impacts. These include severe floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, storms, and heat waves,” said SAWS Communication Manager, Hannelee Doubell.
The South African Weather Service will this week bring the Integrated Climate-Driven Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (ICMHEWS) project to the community of Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) February 28, 2024
“This has evoked an urgent need for the SAWS to collaborate with various stakeholders in the disaster management value chain such as the Red Cross, Provincial Disaster Management, and members of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality Council to ensure that communities effectively confront the multifaceted challenges posed by ever-evolving climate patterns.”
The main focus of this workshop is to detect early warnings for climate hazards and risks within district municipalities, disaster risk reduction, and mitigation strategies for protecting people and property.
The SAWS is hosting a workshop to close the gap between risk management driven by climate change and strengthening community resilience. Foto: Twitter/SA Weather Services
The goal of the Integrated Climate-Driven Multi-Hazard Early Warning System is to create a reliable early warning system for communities and government that is inspired by users.
“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment oversees the SAWS, which is entrusted with giving the general public in South Africa access to reliable and timely meteorological scientific data,” said Doubell.
