Nghe An: Focus on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 4 and proactively responding to natural disasters

Due to the influence of storm No. 4, from September 28 to September 30, Nghe An province had heavy to very heavy rain, total rainfall from 250 - 500mm, higher in some places such as Thanh Chuong: 512mm, Quynh Luu: 605mm.

Heavy rains over a large area in many localities have caused flooding, landslides and great damage to production and people's lives, leaving some people dead and missing, some dike works, irrigation dams and reservoirs have had incidents, many traffic routes have been flooded and eroded.

Heavy rain caused severe flooding in Thanh Chuong district. Photo: Nghe An Newspaper

The telegram stated: Due to the impact of climate change, natural disasters are increasingly unusual, extreme, and difficult to predict.

To proactively respond and minimize damage caused by natural disasters, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense, the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command, the Provincial Police, provincial departments, branches, sectors, mass organizations, People's Committees of districts, cities, towns, irrigation and hydropower companies and related agencies and units.Absolutely do not be negligent or subjectivelose vigilance; focus on leading, directing, and implementing disaster prevention work with the motto of proactive prevention, timely and drastic response, urgent and effective recovery, not being passive or surprised, and placing tasksensure safety of lifePeople's first and foremost.

Departments, branches and localities focus on the following tasks:

1. Strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 875/CD-TTg dated September 30, 2022 of the Prime Minister on focusing on overcoming the consequences of storm No. 4 and proactively responding to natural disasters in the coming time.

2. In the coming time, local Party committees and authorities will focus on leading, directing, and proactively implementing the work of preventing and combating natural disasters promptly and effectively according to the "four on-site" motto, especially ensuring the safety of people's lives and minimizing damage to people's and State's property. In addition, focus on directing and implementing the work of quickly overcoming the consequences of floods:

- Timely support, visit, encourage and share with affected families, especially families with human losses, policy families and disadvantaged households.

- Organize emergency relief of food and necessities for households at risk of hunger, especially households whose houses have collapsed or been washed away, households in areas that have been deeply flooded, eroded, or isolated, ensuring that people do not suffer from hunger, cold, or thirst.

- Arrange temporary accommodation for households that lost their homes due to floods; mobilize forces to support people in repairing and rebuilding houses, cleaning up the environment, and preventing disease outbreaks after floods.

- Continue to review and proactively evacuate people in dangerous areas, especially areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, and deep flooding.

- Quickly repair and restore damaged essential infrastructure, especially schools, medical stations, electricity and water systems, traffic works, irrigation works, dykes, and dams to proactively respond to new natural disasters; quickly restore production immediately after floods, contributing to stabilizing people's lives.

- Proactively deploy forces to control and guide traffic safety at spillways and deeply flooded areas. At the same time, strictly prohibit people from fishing, collecting firewood, etc. on rivers and streams during heavy rains or moving into flooded areas, downstream of dams, areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides, to prevent further unfortunate human losses.

3. The North Central Hydrometeorological Station continues to closely monitor the developments of floods and rains, forecasts, and promptly informs authorities and people to proactively deploy response work.

4. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with localities to direct, guide, and implement work to ensure safety for agricultural production and restore production immediately after natural disasters; direct work to ensure safety of dikes and dams.

5. The Department of Industry and Trade directs hydropower reservoir owners to strictly implement regulations on dam safety management and reservoir operation procedures, ensuring scientific and safe operation, while contributing to flood reduction downstream.

6. The Department of Transport directs and supports localities in ensuring traffic safety and quickly repairing landslides on traffic routes, especially on main traffic routes.

7. The Department of Health directs and guides localities in implementing environmental sanitation and disease prevention and control during and after floods.

8. The Department of Education and Training directs the work of ensuring safety for students and facilities, equipment, and learning materials, limiting damage, and ensuring that students can return to school immediately after floods.

9. The Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard Command, and the Provincial Police direct forces stationed in the area to proactively arrange means to support evacuation and relocation of residents from dangerous areas, and organize rescue when requested by the locality.

10. The Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper, and press agencies continue to do a good job of communication, instructing people on response skills, limiting risks when natural disasters occur, and reporting promptly and accurately on developments and direction of natural disaster prevention and control.

11.Disaster Prevention CommandThe provincial search and rescue and civil defense departments organize on-duty teams to closely monitor natural disaster developments, proactively direct and deploy response work within their authority; promptly report and propose to competent authorities to direct and handle issues beyond their authority.