Low-lying communes proactively respond to rain and floods after storms

Due to the impact of storm No. 5, the Northern region has experienced heavy to very heavy rain, causing water levels on many rivers to rise, especially the Hoang Long River, warning of deep flooding in many low-lying areas. In response to this development, authorities and people in low-lying areas and along rivers are implementing many response measures to overcome the challenges of natural disasters.

Some roads in Gia Tuong commune were deeply flooded, traffic stopped to ensure safety.

In Gia Tuong commune, people in Ngoc Nhi and Lien Phuong villages are used to "welcoming floods" and "living with floods" on the Hoang Long River. Storm No. 5 caused continuous rains, causing water levels to rise rapidly. By the afternoon of August 26, many roads in the village were flooded up to 25-30 cm.

Faced with this situation, people quickly implemented measures to minimize damage. On the main road leading to Ngoc Nhi village, Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh's family had just finished loading a flock of more than 5,000 ducks onto a truck to transport them to a higher area to avoid damage. Ms. Thanh said: Hearing the news of the flood, she was worried all night about the ducks. At 5 a.m., the family decided to mobilize workers to herd all the ducks to take them away to avoid the flood.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh's family moved the ducks to another location to minimize damage that could be caused by floods.

According to Ms. Thanh, the flock of ducks had been released into the fields for more than 3 months and there was only about half a month left until the day of sale, but the sudden flood caused the family to face a huge expense. She shared: "If there were no floods, the ducks would have found food in the fields, but now they have to be kept in cages and fed with bran, so the cost has increased a lot." According to calculations, the total cost of this move is about 20 million VND, including labor, transportation, barn rental and especially food - each day can cost several million VND. Ms. Thanh just hopes that the flood will recede quickly so that she can bring the ducks back to the fields, reducing the burden of expenses.

Not only Ms. Thanh, but also all over Ngoc Nhi village, people urgently moved and raised their belongings to higher places to avoid damage when the flood came. This was the time when the spirit of solidarity and mutual love was most strongly promoted.

According to Mr. Pham Van Chung, Head of the Ngoc Nhi Village Front Committee, the Hoang Long River started to rise and flood the village from 4:00 a.m. on August 26. In response to the flood, the Village Front Committee coordinated with local forces to assist people in moving their belongings, and mobilized the elderly and children to safe areas to prevent floods.

Ngoc Nhi village has 148 households with 550 people. By the afternoon of August 26, the work of clearing and arranging furniture and assets had been completed. However, what worries Mr. Chung the most is that the water from upstream will cause the water level to rise quickly and high. He estimates that it will take at least a week for the floodwaters to recede completely.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Chairman of Gia Tuong Commune People's Committee said: "Gia Tuong Commune is located in the flood-divided and slow-flooding area of ​​Ninh Binh province, so the area outside the dike is often affected by annual floods." Because of this reality, the Party Committee and the commune government always focus on directing functional branches and villages, promoting a proactive spirit with the motto "3 ready, 4 on-site".

In addition to establishing three sub-committees for natural disaster prevention, the commune leaders regularly monitor the situation closely, increase propaganda via loudspeakers and give direct instructions to each village and each household. The goal is to ensure that all people maintain a proactive spirit and absolutely not be negligent or subjective in flood prevention work. In addition, the commune also closely coordinates with the Mobile Police Department, Ninh Binh Provincial Police to respond promptly if a bad natural disaster occurs.

Mr. Trung said that as of the afternoon of August 26, the number of households affected by the flood was not many, mainly concentrated in Ngoc Nhi and Lien Phuong villages. However, concerns still remain, because whether the water level continues to rise or not depends largely on weather developments. The commune still maintains a proactive spirit in all situations, promptly responding to minimize damage to people and property.

Along with Gia Tuong, Gia Lam is also one of the low-lying riverside localities, which has been heavily affected by heavy rains after the storm. Quyet Thang village on the other side of the Boi River has been completely isolated. Many households in other riverside villages such as Minh Long, Lac Long, Trung Chinh, village 9 and Ninh Thuy are also facing the risk of flooding.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Doan, Vice Chairman of Gia Lam Commune, shared: Due to the frequent impact of floods, local people have formed a high sense of initiative. Most of them are very experienced in moving people, property and livestock to safe places, as well as jacking up furniture in their homes. The commune government has also mobilized shock troops to support people in evacuating. Thanks to the smooth coordination, by 10:00 a.m. on August 26, all cases in low-lying areas had been moved and evacuated safely in accordance with regulations.

Local authorities propagate and support people to relocate vehicles and assets.

To prepare for bad situations, the commune is actively monitoring the development of floods and rains, while preparing enough necessities and developing timely response plans. Mr. Doan emphasized: “Although the current situation has stabilized, we still cannot be subjective. Being prepared is always the top priority to ensure the highest safety for the people.”

According to forecasts, the flood situation is still complicated. The delta, midland and coastal areas of the North, along with the provinces of Lao Cai , Son La, and Thanh Hoa will continue to have heavy rain. Water levels on many rivers are at emergency alert levels. In particular, the Hoang Long River is forecast to peak above alert level 3, which could cause deep and widespread flooding.

However, through the response efforts in Gia Tuong and Gia Lam, it can be seen that the proactive spirit of the government and people is the key factor in minimizing human and property damage. This is proof that timely preparation and action will help localities overcome difficulties and protect people's lives from the harshness of natural disasters.

Nguyen Luu - Minh Hai

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/cac-xa-vung-trung-chu-dong-ung-pho-voi-mua-lu-sau-bao-239912.htm