Reporter: Could you please tell us about the characteristics of the situation and weather developments during the rainy and stormy season in Dak Lak province?

Colonel Le My Danh: The terrain of Dak Lak province is very diverse; the climate is divided into two distinct seasons, the dry season (from November of the previous year to April of the following year) and the rainy season (from May to October every year). The dry season has a dry climate, high temperatures for a long time, which can easily cause drought, explosions, and forest fires. The prolonged rainy season causes floods (especially from August to November every year). Due to the complex mountainous terrain, heavy rains can easily cause flash floods in some places in the province. Tornadoes often occur, especially from March to May every year. Due to the impact of global climate change, the weather and climate will continue to have complex developments that go against the law, with unpredictable consequences; causing damage to people and property of the State and people, especially in key areas. In recent years, the decline in forest area and quality of natural forests has increased the incidence of natural disasters in the area.

Colonel Le My Danh.

PV: In reality, how has the Dak Lak Provincial Military Region implemented the PCTT, TKCN plan and helped people overcome the consequences?

Colonel Le My Danh: Recognizing that the task of PCTT, TKCN is a political task, a combat task in peacetime, the Provincial Military Command has directed its affiliated agencies and units to develop a scientific plan, implement it seriously and closely; strengthen propaganda and education on the task of preventing, combating, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue (CHCN), creating a positive change in the awareness and responsibility of officers and soldiers in the provincial military. At the same time, the Provincial Military Party Committee issued Resolution No. 868-NQ/DU dated July 2, 2015 on preventing, combating, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, catastrophes, and CHCN until 2020 and the following years in the provincial military, in order to concretize the actual situation of units and localities.

Strictly maintain the command duty regime associated with combat readiness; prepare forces and means to be ready to participate in rescue and overcome the consequences of natural disasters, contributing to minimizing damage to people and property of the State and people. Innovate methods of grasping the situation, by all means, check and verify information through channels, the internet, radio, newspapers and hydrometeorological agencies, grasp the situation, promptly and effectively handle situations that arise.

Dak Lak Military Region deploys disaster response plan to help people overcome consequences.

PV: To promote the core role of the armed forces, how does the Dak Lak Provincial Military Command proactively mobilize forces and means?

Colonel Le My Danh: Every year, the Provincial Military Command directs the organization of training, coaching, and practice for the forces according to the program and plan. At the same time, directs the Military Commands of 15 districts, towns, and cities to organize training for district and commune-level cadres, contributing to improving the ability to handle incidents and natural disasters occurring in the area; organizes training for forces concurrently performing rescue and search and rescue tasks according to regulations.

Establish and regularly improve the PCTT, TKCN command committee from the Provincial Military Command to the Commune Military Command; promptly advise local Party committees and authorities on effective command and direction of incident response, natural disasters and TKCN; consolidate and improve the organization and concurrent rescue forces of units; coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to build 2,482 youth shock teams in 2,482 villages, hamlets, and residential groups, 184 militia platoons in 184 communes, wards, and towns, 15 reserve mobilization companies in 15 districts, towns, and cities to perform rescue and TKCN tasks. Establish a mobile rescue and TKCN team of the Provincial Military Command, with 288 comrades, ready to participate in handling situations.

Armed forces of Dak Lak province help people overcome the consequences of floods, 2022. Photo: VAN DIEN

Every year, organize coordination conferences with units of the Ministry of National Defense, Military Regions stationed in the area and local authorities in performing the task of responding to incidents, natural disasters and search and rescue with a total of 11,399 comrades. Advise the Provincial People's Committee to invest in the construction of 4 canoe launching docks in Ea Sup, Buon Don, Krong Bong, Lak districts to serve the work of disaster prevention and rescue; advise the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command, Military Region to invest in purchasing materials, maintaining and repairing equipment and vehicles serving the work of rescue and rescue, step by step ensuring the performance of tasks. Organize the reception and distribution of materials and equipment for disaster prevention and rescue to agencies and units for management and proper use, contributing to improving capacity in performing rescue and rescue tasks. Direct the Military Commands of districts to proactively advise Party committees and authorities on socio-economic development planning associated with disaster prevention and control according to Circular No. 05/2016/TT-BKHĐT dated June 6, 2016 of the Minister of Planning and Investment.

PV: The 2023 storm season is approaching, what has the Dak Lak Provincial Military Command done to effectively prevent and minimize damage caused by natural disasters?

Colonel Le My Danh: The Provincial Military Command continues to educate and fully disseminate documents of all levels on disaster prevention and control, search and rescue; develop a Disaster Prevention and Control Plan for the period 2024-2029 under the direction of the Military Region, adjust response plans for strong storms and super storms to suit the actual conditions of the locality. The unit assigns officers and employees to participate in training courses, training courses, and professional training in rescue and search and rescue organized by superiors; coordinate with departments, branches and sectors to advise the Provincial People's Committee on planning and investing in socio-economic development associated with disaster prevention, control and mitigation, building and promoting 4 on-site; propagate and mobilize people to actively and proactively prevent and control disasters, search and rescue; build on-site forces to be ready to respond to incidents and natural disasters right at the grassroots level.

Agencies and units must strengthen the civil defense, PCTT-TKCN command boards at all levels; organize training on incident response, natural disasters and TKCN in 2023 for the provincial military; especially strengthen and perfect the organization and concurrently-employed C&C forces to be ready to participate in handling situations. The Provincial Military Command advises the Military Region, the Provincial People's Committee, PCTT-TKCN command boards at all levels to invest in purchasing and maintaining materials and means to serve PCTT-TKCN tasks.

The unit strictly maintains the rescue and search and rescue duty regime according to regulations; grasps the situation of incidents, natural disasters and risks of incidents and natural disasters in the area to promptly advise on handling, not to be passive or surprised. Coordinates and cooperates closely with local authorities, military units, police and functional forces in the area to fully prepare forces, means, supplies and equipment, ready to handle all situations.

PV: Thank you very much, comrade!

BINH DINH (implementation)