Nghe An province issues directive on responding to severe cold spell.

According to a bulletin from the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, due to the influence ofcold air mass intensifiesIn the coming days, the weather will remain cold in Northern Vietnam and North Central Vietnam, with some mountainous areas experiencing severe cold and frost. The lowest temperatures will generally be around 11-14 degrees Celsius, 7-10 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas, and below 5 degrees Celsius in high mountainous areas, with the possibility of ice and frost.

To proactively respond to severe cold weather, the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue proposes:

1. Strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TW dated December 5, 2020, of the Central Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control - National Committee for Incident Response, Disaster Relief and Search and Rescue.

Official dispatch No. 19 on proactively responding to severe cold weather. Photo by PV.

2. Chairpersons of the People's Committees and Heads of the Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Boards of districts, cities, and towns:

- Regularly update weather conditions, developments of cold fronts, severe cold spells, and frost; increase the broadcast time of information on local information and communication systems so that authorities at all levels and the people, especially in mountainous areas, are aware and can proactively take preventive measures;

- Focus on directing the implementation of measures to ensure the safety of people, especially the elderly, children, and students, such as limiting exposure to cold weather, dressing warmly, and not using charcoal stoves for heating in enclosed rooms; and for livestock, crops, and aquatic products to minimize production losses, paying attention to large livestock herds and concentrated livestock farms in particularly difficult areas, remote areas, and mountainous regions.

- Directing specialized departments and divisions to inspect and supervise the work of preventing and combating cold weather for people, livestock, and crops, and guiding the application of technical measures combined with traditional experiences of local people;

- Proactively allocate local budgets, disaster prevention and control funds, and on-site resources to promptly serve disaster prevention and control efforts; deploy rapid response forces at the grassroots level, provide supplies and funding to help people, especially policy beneficiary families, ethnic minority households, and poor households, implement measures to ensure safety and minimize damage such as: reinforcing and covering livestock shelters; moving and concentrating free-grazing livestock herds to sheltered areas; preparing and stockpiling feed and vaccines for disease prevention…

3. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directs and guides localities on the implementation of the work.protection against cold weatherThis includes preventing diseases in livestock, aquaculture, and crops, and developing and adjusting production plans and crop structures to suit weather conditions and developments.

Farmers in Quynh Luu are tending to their winter crops. Photo by Viet Hung.

4. The Department of Health guides people in implementing measures to prevent and combat the cold, ensuring health and avoiding the risk of gas poisoning when burning coal or wood for heating; directs grassroots health forces to ensure the necessary supply of medicines and organize medical examinations and treatment for the people.

5. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall direct the close monitoring of weather conditions, increase the number of forecast and warning bulletins, and provide them to mass media and relevant agencies for timely dissemination to the public and to support effective guidance and response to natural disasters.

6. The Department of Information and Communications, Nghe An Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper, and other news agencies should increase the frequency and duration of weather forecast broadcasts; and intensify the dissemination of knowledge on preventing and combating hunger, cold, and diseases affecting crops, livestock, and aquaculture to relevant agencies and the public.

7. Maintain a strict 24/7 duty roster and regularly report to the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue (via the Standing Office) in case of any unexpected situations for timely handling.