Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Nghe An must always be 'careful and thoughtful' in responding to storm No. 4

On the afternoon of August 29, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Cuong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and his delegation inspected the work of preventing storm No. 4 in Nghe An province. Photo: Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong inspects the work of preventing storm No. 4 in Cua Lo town. Photo: Thanh Duy

Also going to Nghe An province were comrades: Nguyen Dac Vinh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Dinh Viet Hong - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee...

Proactivetimely response

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong inspected Cua Hoi fishing port, Cua Lo town and the boat anchorage area of ​​Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district. At the inspection sites, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development acknowledged the proactive response to the storm of the province and localities, especially that boats have basically reached safe anchorage. Next, the working delegation worked with provincial leaders on the prevention and control of storm No. 4.

Fishing boats anchored at Cua Hoi port. Photo: Thanh Duy

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee and the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control - Search and Rescue (PCTT-TKCN) issued 3 dispatches; participated in an online meeting with the Central Steering Committee for PCTT on the afternoon of August 28, 2019. Then, the PCTT-TKCN Steering Committee held a meeting to issue a dispatch prohibiting the sea at 6:00 a.m. on August 29, 2019.

The province assigned members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Departments, branches and sectors to go to localities to participate in directing storm prevention and control with the localities. Based on grasping the actual developments, timely and appropriate solutions will be provided.

The armed forces have sent eight working groups to the base to inspect preparations for responding to storm No. 4.

Nghe An province has 3,847 boats/18,704 workers directly fishing at sea. These vehicles have been notified to find safe shelter. By 7:00 p.m. on August 29, all boats had returned to safe anchorage.

The total aquaculture area of ​​the province is 18,908 hectares and 960 cages. Of which, the harvested area is 2,103 hectares; 50 cages; the farming area is 16,805 hectares and 910 cages. All aquaculture households have proactively taken measures to prevent and minimize damage.

Provincial leaders reported on the response to storm No. 4 to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Thanh Duy

Nghe An province has 41.78 km of sea dykes and 11.65 km of sea embankments. These dykes have been upgraded to ensure protection against level 10 storms and high tides with an average frequency of 5%. The dykes were built according to the Government's sea dyke upgrading program in Decision No. 58/2006/QD-TTg. Local authorities have implemented protection plans for vulnerable sections and river mouth dykes.

At present, there are about 1,260 tourists staying in Cua Lo and Bai Lu towns. All tourists and owners of accommodation establishments have been informed about the developments of storm No. 4.

The province has directed coastal localities to prepare for evacuation when ordered, according to the response plan for strong storms and super storms approved by the provincial People's Committee. The on-site evacuation plan is expected to include 4,063 households.

Up to now, the rice area of ​​the whole province has harvested 46,000/62,472 hectares of cultivated rice; reaching about 75%.

Fishing boats anchor at Dien Ngoc boat anchorage area, Dien Chau district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Nghe An has directedCheck residential areas along rivers, streams, downstream of lakes, dams, low-lying areas, streamside areas outside the riverbank, areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, unsafe housing to proactively evacuate people to safe places. Especially at 4 landslide locations: Muong Tip Commune, Muong Ai Commune, Bao Nam, Block 4, Ky Son Town, the locality is currently ready with plans to evacuate people when there is rain and flood to safe places such as: Commune People's Committee Headquarters, Schools, Border Guard Stations, staying at houses of people with safe places.

There are 18 hydroelectric reservoirs in operation in the province. Of these, 3 large reservoirs (Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Chi Khe) are operating according to the Inter-reservoir Operation Procedure on the Ca River Basin...

Always be in the "be as careful and thoughtful as possible" mindset.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong commended and acknowledged the seriousness, creativity, and proactiveness in the work of preventing storm No. 4 in both coastal routes, production areas, and dam safety...

However, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development noted that the province continues to conduct a thorough review to ensure the safety of aquaculture areas, and mobilize military forces and other forces to harvest rice in low-lying areas.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh discussed the response to storm No. 4 with participating forces. Photo: Thanh Duy

In particular, thoroughly review more than 4,000 households in high-risk estuaries and seaports and assign specific tasks to evacuate people immediately in case of emergency to ensure safety.

Besides, Nghe An needs to thoroughly review and have a regulation plan at 625 reservoirs according to each group of reservoirs and types of reservoirs such as hydroelectric reservoirs, large reservoirs, small hydroelectric reservoirs, small reservoirs, and degraded reservoirs.

“First of all, we must ensure absolute safety, and prevent dam and lake breaks from happening,” Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong emphasized. He also noted that it is necessary to carefully calculate water storage because this is also an opportunity to retain water after a period of drought.

On the other hand, the province also pays close attention to the impact of post-storm circulation causing heavy rain, especially paying attention to residential areas near rivers and streams to ensure absolute safety for people and avoid flash floods.

Soldiers help fishermen anchor their boats at the Dien Ngoc boat anchorage area, Dien Chau district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Emphasizing the spirit of proactive response with the 4 on-site motto, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong welcomed Nghe An's efforts, and noted that from now until the end of the storm, the province must not be subjective, and must always be in the position of "being as careful and thoughtful as possible" because if there is human damage, it will be impossible to learn from experience.

On behalf of the provincial leaders, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy received the instructions of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the notes of the working group members.

Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong speaks at the meeting with provincial leaders. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee committed to the Inspection Team that Nghe An's guiding spirit is always timely, urgent, proactive, not subjective or negligent; on duty 24/7, developing plans and regularly reviewing plans to respond most proactively with the 4 on-site motto associated with the responsibility of the leader; implementing comprehensive, strict and certain review plans...