The more difficult the situation, the more drastic the action.

Be proactive from the grassroots, not passive in the face of natural disasters

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and leaders of departments and branches worked with Xuan Mai and Tran Phu communes on responding to storm No. 3. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Xuan Mai and Tran Phu communes are two areas merged from many old communes, with fragmented, low-lying terrain, often affected by floods, and identified as key natural disaster areas of the city. Chairman of Xuan Mai Commune People's Committee Nguyen Anh Duc said that the commune has more than 14,000 households, of which about 1,433 households are regularly flooded, with 6,553 people. The hilly terrain interspersed with low-lying fields limits water drainage capacity, threatening the safety of residents, production and infrastructure.

Chairman of Tran Phu Commune People's Committee Do Hoang Anh Chau proposed solutions to ensure safety for people in flood-affected areas. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Immediately after establishing the new commune under the two-level local government model, the commune developed a response plan according to the level of natural disaster risk, arranged 20 evacuation points, and was ready to receive about 6,500 people. Evacuation support teams, shock troops, militia, military , etc. were mobilized. However, the commune faced difficulties in equipment such as motorboats, pumps, life jackets, and the regular police force in the commune currently has only 65 people, making it difficult to ensure coordination when natural disasters occur.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Phu Commune, Do Hoang Anh Chau, said that the commune has established all sub-committees, prepared a force of 1,200 people on site, coordinated with 200 more officers and soldiers, signed a contract in principle to provide materials including 15,000 sacks, 2,000 bamboo poles, canvas, and mechanical vehicles... Patrol and duty points are also ready to deploy tasks. However, the locality also recommended that the city supplement specialized equipment and clarify the new administrative boundaries after the merger to coordinate and avoid overlap.

The new context requires more drastic and synchronous approaches.

Leaders of the Hanoi Capital Command and the city police affirmed that they will support localities to ensure the safety of people's lives and property in natural disasters and incidents. *Photo: Kim Nhuệ*

At the meeting, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Hanoi Capital Command, the City Police... all affirmed to support localities with forces, means, ensuring communication, traffic... when large and complicated natural disasters occur.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen assessed: "Storm No. 3 has unpredictable developments, accompanied by very heavy rain, the possibility of flash floods, and a high risk of widespread flooding in many localities. Meanwhile, this year is the first year of implementing the two-level local government model, so some places are still confused and lack synchronization in response direction."

The Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee acknowledged that Xuan Mai and Tran Phu are two key areas with high initiative, clear plans and rescue forces. At the same time, he emphasized the good operation of the "4 on-site" model, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property is the top priority in all natural disaster situations.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen directed forces to coordinate smoothly to ensure people's safety in the face of natural disasters. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Concluding the meeting, the Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee requested that units not be subjective or negligent in any natural disaster situation. "Although the new apparatus still has many things to improve, this is also an opportunity to test the command and management capacity from the grassroots level. The more difficult it is, the more we must stick together and act more decisively to protect the people," said Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen.

In the long term, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with localities to study a plan to ensure safety for people in a sustainable manner for at least 50 years. "Calculate the plan to relocate people from low-lying areas to new, safe and stable places, choose an economic development model for the area where people move. Build a sustainable dike line...", the Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee suggested a plan.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/cang-trong-kho-khan-cang-phai-hanh-dong-quyet-liet-709902.html