Urgent telegram on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3 and proactively responding to floods and rains

Due to the impact of the tropical depression, especially storm No. 3, from July 13 to July 19, 2018, Nghe An province has had very heavy rain, with rainfall ranging from 300 - 600mm, causing flooding, flash floods, and floods in the Ca River basin and many other areas. In the coming days, floods and rains will continue to be very complicated, with a high risk of flash floods, landslides, and widespread flooding.

Strictly implementing the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 931/CD-TTg dated July 20, 2018, to focus on quickly overcoming the consequences and proactively responding to storms and floods in the coming time, the Chairman of the People's Committee - Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue requests the Chairman of the People's Committee - Head of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of districts, cities, towns, the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command, Directors of provincial Departments, Boards, Branches, Directors of Irrigation, Electricity; Hydropower Companies in the province and related units to urgently perform the following tasks:

1. Chairman of People's Committee of districts, cities and towns:

- Continue to urgently direct the overcoming of the consequences of the recent floods; deploy plans to respond to natural disasters in the area in the coming time.

- Organize visits, encouragement, and support for families that have suffered losses, families with meritorious services, and single parents. Arrange temporary accommodation for households that have lost their homes or had to relocate. Organize emergency support with food, necessities, and medicine for people in isolated areas, so that people do not go hungry.

On July 19, due to rising floodwaters, a kitchen of a resident in Hop Thanh village, Xa Luong commune, Ky Son district was eroded and had to be urgently evacuated. Photo courtesy

- Mobilize local forces and means to help people overcome the consequences, repair houses and trees; quickly restore agricultural production; guide people in taking care of crops, and arrange suitable varieties to replant lost areas.

- Arrange forces to control, support, and guide traffic in areas with landslides, underground tunnels, overflows, and deep flooding... to ensure safety; do not let people collect firewood or fish on the river during floods, as this can cause unfortunate accidents.

- Mobilize all people and mass organizations at all levels to participate in cleaning, general environmental sanitation, and disinfection to prevent disease outbreaks and spread.

- Repair damaged works such as: traffic works, irrigation works, electricity systems, schools, medical facilities, domestic water supply works and other essential infrastructure to soon stabilize people's lives.

- Deploy assessment and statistics of damage to proactively support and overcome consequences and report to relevant agencies according to regulations.

2. Members of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, according to assigned tasks, continue to go to key areas to direct response and overcoming the consequences of storms and floods.

Ang hydropower plant releases flood water on July 19, 2018. Photo: Dao Tho

3. Hydropower and Irrigation Companies: Closely monitor weather developments to direct the operation of irrigation reservoirs and inter-hydropower reservoirs to ensure procedures and safety for downstream areas and construction safety; Focus on operating at maximum capacity of pumping stations and sluices to drain water as quickly as possible.

4. The Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Industry and Trade, Nghe An Electricity, Health and related Departments, Boards and sectors, according to their functions and duties, focus on directing traffic assurance; ensuring electricity for production and daily life; directing timely drainage, restoring agricultural production; and preventing epidemics in damaged areas.

5. The Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command; and the Provincial Police continue to maintain forces ready for rescue, search and rescue, and organize relief when requested.

6. The North Central Region Hydrometeorological Station closely monitors the weather and post-storm flood situation, and provides timely information to help people know and take precautions.

7. Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper and mass media actively propagate about overcoming the consequences of storms and floods.

8. Be on duty 24/7, regularly report the results of damage recovery caused by storms and floods to the Provincial People's Committee through the Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue for timely handling./.