Unique flood-resistant houses in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - Located entirely outside the left bank of the Lam River, Hung Nhan commune is in the flood-prone area of ​​Hung Nguyen district. Every year, the commune is affected by floods, so the local residents have designed very unique flood-resistant houses…

Previously, during each flood season, which caused deep and prolonged flooding, the people of Hung Nhan often had to move their belongings, livestock, and poultry to the dike to escape the flood. Recognizing that they must live with floods, in recent years, most households in Hung Nhan have designed elevated storage areas and built water tanks on higher ground; this ensures they still have clean water to use when floodwaters rise.

90% of households in Hung Nhan build wooden houses with attics to store food and as shelter for the family when floodwaters rise.

The attic is typically designed to be 2.8-3 meters above the house floor (about 1 meter higher than the flood levels of 1978 and 1988). In case of flooding, the attic serves as a shelter for everyone in the house. It also stores the family's food supplies year-round, ensuring they are not affected by floods.

“My cupboard can store about 2 tons of rice. And if there’s a flood, the whole family can live right here on this upper floor. The cupboard is designed to accommodate a gas stove for cooking, and from here we can get water from the clean water tank; it can ensure enough water for daily use for about a month.”

In addition, over the past five years, 73 impoverished households in flood-prone areas have received government support to build flood-resistant shelters. These shelters are typically built on elevated ground, 2.5 to 3 meters above the surface, and have an upper floor to provide refuge and storage for belongings during high floodwaters.

For many years, Ms. Ho Thi Hoa, from Hamlet 7, Hung Nhan, has been stockpiling straw and hay with her family every rainy and stormy season to feed their buffaloes and cows on the sandbank to survive.

Besides preparing food, water, and shelter from floods for people, some households in Hung Nhan have also built self-rescue mounds with ladders to bring buffaloes and cows up to escape the floodwaters. People usually prepare feed (straw) for their buffaloes and cows from the harvest season, in case of floods... Currently, more than 500 households in Hung Nhan commune have built self-rescue mounds.

Living in a flood-prone area, many households in Hung Nhan commune have proactively acquired small boats. Currently, there are about 100 small boats built by the people themselves in the commune. Hung Nhan commune also has 8 boats (1 motorboat) and contracts to rent 5 larger boats from fishermen to provide timely rescue when major floods occur.

Every household prepares boats for transportation during the flood season. Pictured is the three-leaf boat of the Au Van Dan family, Hamlet 7, Hung Nhan Commune.

Hung Nhan commune has also built a community flood shelter within the commune headquarters' grounds. The community flood shelter is designed to include a kitchen, water supply, etc. In the event of a major flood, the elderly and children will be moved to live together in the community flood shelter to ensure their safety.

Many thatched huts were built in Hung Nhan.

Mr. Phan Dinh Hoan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Nhan commune, said: "As a commune located entirely outside the Lam River dike, in addition to the local authorities' proactive efforts, the commune also educates people to always be proactive according to the 'four on-the-spot' principle; promptly responding to natural disasters, floods, and storms, avoiding damage to people and property."

Thanh Tam - Quang An