Ensuring effective communication and response to natural disasters.

(Baonghean.vn)On the afternoon of April 2nd, the Nghe An Department of Information and Communications held a meeting to summarize the department's flood and storm prevention work in 2013 and to implement tasks for 2014. Attending the conference were representatives from the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee, functional departments under the Department of Information and Communications, telecommunications agencies, and members of the flood and storm prevention and control steering committee of the Information and Communications sector.

Overview of the conference

In 2013, the climate and weather conditions were complex, with frequent storms and floods significantly impacting the telecommunications sector. Particularly, prolonged heavy rainfall from the remnants of storms caused widespread flooding, resulting in severe damage to the infrastructure of the postal and telecommunications network. Storms No. 10 and 11 significantly affected postal delivery in many districts of the province. The storm remnants brought heavy rain over a wide area, impacting the smooth operation of information, communication, mail, and parcels on two important routes, National Highway 7 and National Highway 48. Tornadoes and thunderstorms caused the collapse of poles and damage to telecommunications equipment throughout Nghe An province.

Comrade Ho Quang Thanh - Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Information and Communications, chaired the conference.

Nevertheless, thanks to effective leadership and response to natural disasters, storms, and floods, strict implementation of directives from the central and provincial authorities, and readiness with disaster response plans based on the "four on-the-spot" principle, the information and communication sector minimized significant damage from natural disasters and floods in 2014. In particular, during the past year, the sector successfully organized a disaster response drill, conducted inspections of disaster prevention plans at various units, and coordinated with relevant agencies to strengthen public awareness campaigns about natural disasters and floods.

The coastal telecommunications station organized the reception and broadcasting of accurate, timely, and sufficient frequency warnings and forecasts of maritime natural disasters using prescribed methods and on designated frequency channels, especially the 7906 KHz frequency channel reserved for fishing vessels; improving the quality of receiving and processing information on maritime natural disaster prevention and control. Nghe An Newspaper organized dozens of special features and 10 video clips to promote disaster prevention and control and search and rescue work; published nearly 200 news articles, photos, photo reports, and reports on disaster prevention and control work in the daily Nghe An Newspaper and the Nghe An online newspaper. Nghe An Newspaper invested in many operational equipment and tools to work in stormy weather conditions, sending hundreds of reporters to the field to gather information and report on the preparation of flood and storm prevention plans as well as the remediation of storm consequences. The provincial radio and television station proactively developed and broadcast 5 special features on disaster prevention and control work; News programs promptly reflect the flood control and disaster relief efforts of localities in the province. The activities of the press agencies contribute to reducing the damage caused by storms and floods.

Representatives from various units delivered speeches and participated in discussions at the conference.

At the concluding meeting, delegates discussed response plans to natural disasters, storms, and floods in the context of increasingly complex and severe climate change, and also reorganized the Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee of the Information and Communications sector for 2014.

Nguyen Khoa