Proactive response to natural disasters

In recent years, due to the impact of climate change, natural disasters in Vietnam in general and Phu Tho province in particular have become more complicated, causing great damage to people's lives, health and property. In order to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters, all levels and sectors of the province have always proactively implemented early and remote prevention and control measures with the motto "Proactive prevention, timely response, urgent and effective recovery".

The banks and embankments of the Thao River in Cao Bang residential area, Thanh Minh commune and Le Dong residential area, Au Co ward, Phu Tho town, which suffered serious landslides, were urgently invested in embankments at the end of 2023.

Extreme developments

Phu Tho is a midland and mountainous province with a terrain divided by many rivers, streams, many mountainous areas, remote areas; the transport infrastructure passes through many areas with difficult terrain, many roads are isolated, landslides, and slides when there are floods, causing difficulties in responding to and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. Moreover, some dangerous weather patterns such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, and heavy rains are increasingly extreme, with unusual developments with high intensity and narrow scope, making it difficult to forecast, warn as well as direct the response to natural disasters.

According to statistics from the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue (PCTT&TKCN), in 2023, there were 10 natural disasters in the province causing damage to people, property and agricultural production in some localities with a total estimated damage of 41.5 billion VND.

Specifically: Natural disasters killed 1 person, injured 1 person; collapsed 2 houses, blew off roofs, damaged 691 houses; damaged 25 schools, 8 classrooms, 4 medical facilities, 5 cultural works, 1 historical and cultural relic; damaged 1,105 hectares of rice, 752.3 hectares of flowers and vegetables, 1 hectare of perennial crops, 20 hectares of annual crops, 45 hectares of concentrated fruit trees, 110 hectares of forest; killed 3 cattle, 200 poultry, overflowed 40.5 hectares of fish ponds; damaged 585m of canals, 6,920m of river banks, 2,000m of embankments, 4 culverts across the dike; landslides of 2,550m3 of road land, 40m of road; 1 transformer station burned, 42 electric poles fell; 2 agency headquarters, 1 factory were damaged; 3,507m of fence collapsed and some other damages.

In the first 6 months of 2024, 7 thunderstorms continued to occur in the province, causing damage: 1 person died due to being swept away by water, 3 people were injured; 1,098 houses were damaged, roofs were blown off; 14 cultural houses, 60 schools, 6 medical facilities, 11 agency headquarters, 15 factories were damaged; 350.2 hectares of rice, 624.4 hectares of vegetables were damaged; 227.5 hectares of perennial trees, 201.8 hectares of bananas, 1 hectare of seedless persimmon trees were broken and fell; 2,100 poultry were killed; 1 transformer station was burned; 3 telecommunication poles, 1 high-voltage power pole, 211 low-voltage power poles, 3,767m of fences and some other damages were damaged. The total estimated damage was about 58.4 billion VND.

According to the assessment of the Northern Mountainous Region Hydrometeorological Station, from May to October, the temperature may be 0.5-1.0 ^degrees Celsius higher than the average of many years; the flow on rivers in the province is likely to be 10-30% lower than the average, especially the Bua River which is likely to be 20-40% higher than the average; the rainfall in areas in the province from August to September is generally 10-30% higher than the average.

From June to August, severe heat is likely to occur more than the average, beware of especially severe heat, water levels of rivers fluctuate strongly because these are the main months of flood season.

Thanh Son is a mountainous district, so the small rivers and streams flowing through have steep slopes. When heavy rains last for a long time, flash floods often occur, with large flow rates and unpredictable destruction.

Comrade Phung Minh Dung - Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: In anticipation of this year's natural disaster situation, the district has proactively developed a plan with the motto "three ready" and "four on-site". In which, taking prevention as the main task, from response to early action, to minimize damage to people and property.

Localities proactively prepare forces, materials, and means for each key area of ​​PCTT, areas frequently affected by flash floods, landslides, and inundation, and prepare evacuation plans. At the same time, focus on strengthening information, warnings, and forecasting, ensuring smooth communication and traffic; promptly overcome the consequences if a natural disaster occurs.

Being proactive in all situations, when natural disasters occur, the Provincial and local Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue quickly deploy plans, organize response and overcome consequences according to the "4 on-site" motto to minimize damage, ensure people's lives, and provide support according to regulations.

When there is a flood situation, Son Hung commune, Thanh Son district always proactively cuts the pontoon bridge to ensure the safety of the people.

Proactive response

Weather and climate developments are increasingly extreme and difficult to predict, so natural disaster prevention and control is increasingly facing many difficulties and challenges. The damage caused by natural disasters is extremely severe, requiring a lot of resources, time and effort to overcome. In this situation, Party committees and authorities at all levels have led, directed and proactively implemented many synchronous solutions with the people to focus on overcoming the consequences caused by natural disasters and soon stabilize life.

With the viewpoint and goal of "Proactive prevention, timely response, urgent and effective recovery", the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, agencies, units and localities have been strengthened and their capacity to command and operate disaster prevention and control activities has been enhanced.

Functional sectors and local authorities strengthen information and communication activities, disaster prevention and response skills; improve capacity, organize training and drills for forces directly involved in disaster prevention and response. The quality of information, forecasts and warnings on weather and natural disasters is improved; the application of science and technology in disaster prevention and response is enhanced.

The regular work, on duty and reporting on PCTT&TKCN work are carried out fully and seriously in accordance with regulations. Effectively implement the regulations, plans and PCTT solutions that have been issued; develop key protection plans; promptly inspect and handle violations in the fields of dykes, irrigation and PCTT.

Commanding, responding and organizing the overcoming of natural disaster consequences were carried out promptly, ensuring the rapid stabilization of people's lives and production; at the same time, reviewing and investing in improving the resilience of natural disaster prevention works, especially dikes, dams, and protecting the protective forest system... have contributed significantly to improving the ability to protect people from natural disasters.

When natural disasters occur, the local Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention and Control at all levels proactively organize response and overcome consequences according to the "4 on-site" motto to minimize damage, ensure people's lives, and provide support according to regulations.

However, along with the achieved results, the province's disaster prevention and control work still faces many difficulties such as: Infrastructure serving disaster prevention and control work is still lacking in synchronization; the system of dams, canals, culverts... was built a long time ago and has degraded.

Many projects related to or integrated with PCTT tasks in the province have been implemented; however, due to limited funding, project implementation progress has been prolonged...

Disaster prevention and control is an important, continuous and practical task that contributes to protecting people's lives and the achievements of socio-economic development. Therefore, along with the efforts of all levels and functional sectors, it is important that each person and community needs to raise awareness, responsibility, and proactively monitor weather information to have measures to prevent and respond to natural disasters in order to protect the lives and property of themselves, their families and the community.

Comrade Nguyen Hung Son - Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department, Chief of the Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, said: According to forecasts, this year's weather will continue to be unusual, with many potential risks, so disaster prevention and control is a task that requires the participation of all levels, sectors, and forces from the province to the locality. Promoting the achieved results, thoroughly overcoming the shortcomings and limitations, localities and units need to develop response plans for specific natural disaster situations on the basis of closely following reality, paying special attention to plans to prevent and respond to dangerous forms of natural disasters such as flash floods, landslides, etc.

At the same time, organize inspection, review, and assessment of the current status of works related to PCTT, works showing signs of danger and insecurity; arrange forces to regularly inspect works before, during, and after natural disasters; prepare materials on site, arrange forces ready to mobilize when necessary. Carry out investment management, construction, and maintenance of dikes, dams, PCTT works in accordance with regulations; mobilize maximum resources to improve the quality and effectiveness of PCTT work...

Anh Tho

Source: https://baophutho.vn/chu-dong-ung-pho-voi-thien-tai-215587.htm