The government and leaders who are close and determined can minimize damage caused by natural disasters.
(Baonghean.vn) - Natural disasters in 2020 have had a great impact on people's lives and the socio-economy in Nghe An province. From lessons learned from prevention, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu requested that sectors and localities perform well their tasks in disaster prevention and control.
On the morning of March 31, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a conference to review the work of Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue (PCTT-TKCN) in 2020 and deploy tasks for 2021.
Comrades:Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee:Hoang Nghia Hieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ha - Commander of the Provincial Military Command chaired the conference. Attending the conference were Major General Tran Khac Bang - Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 4, representatives of departments, branches and localities in the whole province.
NATURAL DISASTERS CAUSED MORE THAN 1,320 BILLION VND IN DAMAGE
In 2020, natural disasters occurred frequently and were especially fierce, exceeding historical levels across all regions of the country, with 14 storms and 1 tropical depression; 265 thunderstorms, tornadoes; 120 flash floods, landslides; 90 earthquakes; severe drought, saltwater intrusion, riverbank and coastal erosion, sea dike subsidence in the Mekong Delta, etc. Notably, within just 45 days from mid-September to the end of October, historic heavy rains and floods occurred in the Central region.
In Nghe An alone, 2020 was a year of very complicated natural disasters with 2 storms; 31 cold spells, including 2 severe cold spells; 15 tornadoes, thunderstorms; 11 heat waves. Notably, during the year, the province had 4 rain and flood spells, causing many localities to be cut off and isolated. In 2020, there were also 59 accidents and incidents at sea, causing 5 fishing boats to burn, 8 fishing boats to sink; killing 22 people, injuring 8 people, and 3 people missing.
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| Scene of the Conference to summarize disaster prevention and search and rescue work in 2020 and deploy tasks in 2021. Photo: Pham Bang |
Natural disasters in 2020 had a major impact on people's lives and the socio-economy in the province. Natural disasters killed 17 people; injured 13 people; collapsed 54 houses; damaged or had their roofs blown off 3,314 houses; affected 1,506 houses by landslides; and flooded 19,865 houses. Damage to agricultural and forestry production and infrastructure is estimated at more than VND 1,327 billion.
The Provincial People's Committee assessed that in 2020, the work of natural disaster prevention and control continued to receive serious attention and direction from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee. The Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, together with sectors, localities and units, resolutely and synchronously deployed and well prepared all three stages of prevention, response and overcoming consequences, thereby limiting many losses in terms of human life and property, gradually building a safe society against natural disasters.
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| Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ha - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command spoke at the Conference. Photo: Pham Bang |
The most important lesson is that proactive prevention, early and decisive participation of the entire political system, society, people and business community will minimize human and property damage. Where the government is concerned, the leader is close, decisive and specific, and the executive staff is concerned and operates professionally and effectively, there the damage caused by natural disasters will be minimized.
However, the work of propaganda, dissemination of knowledge, guidance on prevention and response to natural disasters in some localities and units has not been very effective; a number of cadres, people and local authorities are still subjective and lack proactive response... the number of deaths due to storms, heavy rains and floods still occurs.
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| Mr. Tran Xuan Hoc - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported on the summary of natural disaster prevention, search and rescue work in 2020 and deployed tasks in 2021. Photo: Pham Bang |
PROACTIVE RESPONSE, PREVENTION IS THE KEY
According to the assessment of the North Central Hydrometeorological Station, from June to July 2021, storms and tropical depressions are likely to start operating in the northern waters of the East Sea; from May to August 2021, there is a possibility of some small floods on the rivers of Nghe An. However, the heat will not be as intense and prolonged as in 2020, with average temperatures ranging from 25.5 to 27 degrees Celsius.
At the conference, representatives of districts: Tuong Duong, Hung Nguyen, Dien Chau; units: Provincial Border Guard Command, Ban Ve Hydropower Joint Stock Company presented many experiences in PCTT-TKCN work and proposed recommendations to improve the effectiveness of this work, thereby minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.
Concluding the conference, comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue highly appreciated and commended the efforts and determination of all levels, sectors, organizations and people in natural disaster prevention and search and rescue work in 2020, contributing to minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.
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| Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control concluded the Conference. Photo: Pham Bang |
The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also said that the damage caused by natural disasters is still large, resources to overcome shortcomings in natural disaster prevention work are still limited, there are still shortcomings in flood discharge work of hydroelectric plants; encroachment on dike corridors is still widespread.
Regarding the tasks in 2021, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu said that according to forecasts, tornadoes, hail, droughts, and floods are likely to occur at any time in the area. Therefore, disaster prevention and control work must be identified as an important and regular task of the entire political system and from now on, departments, branches, localities, and units must focus on implementing key tasks in disaster prevention and control - search and rescue work.
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| Flooding during the 2020 rainy season was severe in many blocks in Ben Thuy ward, Vinh city. Photo: Quang An |
Emphasizing the motto of proactive prevention, timely response, and prevention as the main focus, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested sectors and localities to summarize and draw experience in directing and operating disaster prevention and control in 2020, and deploy appropriate and effective solutions in 2021. Continue to improve the Disaster Prevention and Control Steering Committee at all levels, clearly defining the responsibilities of each member of the Steering Committee.
In addition, closely monitor the development of natural disasters, develop, update, supplement, and approve disaster prevention and control plans and response plans for all levels of disaster risks, and avoid being passive or surprised with the motto "4 on-site". Harmoniously apply traditional experiences, along with new scientific and technological advances in disaster prevention and control work. In particular, it is necessary to ensure absolute safety for forces participating in disaster prevention and control and search and rescue.
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| Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu awarded Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee to 5 collectives with outstanding achievements in PCTT-TKCN work in 2020. Photo: Pham Bang |
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| Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu awarded Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee to 5 individuals with outstanding achievements in PCTT-TKCN work in 2020. Photo: Pham Bang |
The Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control also requested strict implementation of regulations on dam safety management; monitoring reservoir operations and ensuring information for people in downstream areas when releasing floodwaters; promptly repairing damaged and unsafe natural disaster prevention works, overcoming landslides, and stabilizing the population. Strengthening information and communication work; enhancing training and drills on disaster prevention and control.
On this occasion, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 5 collectives and 5 individuals with outstanding achievements in PCTT-TKCN work in 2020./.