Proactive measures to prevent and mitigate storms and floods.

BPO - Thanh Luong commune, Binh Long town, is a locality that is frequently and severely affected by floods every year. However, thanks to the proactive efforts of the government and the people, flood and storm prevention and control work in the locality is always carried out systematically, promptly and effectively, minimizing damage to people and property.

NOT BEING PASSIVE IN THE FACE OF NATURAL DISASTERS

The 2022 rainy season left a deep mark on the memories of the people of Thanh Luong commune when a historic flood, the worst in over 25 years, swept through the Can Le stream, causing localized flooding of 148 hectares of crops, submerging 55 houses, and causing significant losses to livestock. Mr. Le Minh Huynh's family in Thanh Tuan hamlet was one of the most severely affected, with total losses of nearly 1 billion VND. To prevent a recurrence, at the beginning of 2023, Mr. Huynh spent nearly 500 million VND to fill in and raise the ground level of his house and farm by more than 1 meter. In addition, he continued to invest over 200 million VND to renovate the entire pig farm system, moving the sows to a higher floor to reduce the risk of being swept away by rapidly rising floodwaters.

During the rainy season, the stream near Can Le Bridge (National Highway 13), Thanh Luong commune, Binh Long town, frequently rises.

“My area is low-lying and close to a stream, so every rainy season it gets flooded, affecting my family's pig farming. After the historic flood of 2022, my family spent a large sum of money to raise the foundation and the pigpens by 1 meter, so we are no longer affected as before,” Mr. Huynh shared.

The area around Can Le Bridge in Thanh Kieu hamlet is often flooded during heavy rains. Although it doesn't significantly affect traffic, many households living on both sides of the bridge proactively raise their house foundations and elevate their belongings before each heavy rain. "The most important thing is to prevent it early, because once the floodwaters rise, there's nothing we can do," shared Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dong, a local resident.

Not only Mr. Huynh and Mr. Dong, but many households living along the Can Le stream, spanning four hamlets in Thanh Luong commune, have also developed habits and awareness of preventative measures whenever the rainy season arrives. Approximately 15 households live upstream of the Can Le stream and frequently experience severe flooding due to the low-lying terrain, small flow, and slow drainage. Therefore, the residents are always proactive and ready to respond. “We believe self-reliance is key. During the rainy season, we must prepare in advance; only in unavoidable circumstances do we call for commune support,” said Mr. Truong Van Vang, Head of Thanh Tan hamlet.

THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS INVOLVED

Not only are the people proactive, but the Thanh Luong commune government has also developed specific plans for flood and storm prevention and control, while regularly monitoring the situation at the grassroots level. Currently, Thanh Luong commune has established 14 flood and storm prevention and control teams, each consisting of 5-7 people, including militia forces, commune police, commune People's Committee officials, and youth union members. These teams operate according to the "four on-the-spot" principle: on-the-spot command, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment and supplies, and on-the-spot logistics. They also effectively apply the "three readiness" principle: readiness for proactive prevention, readiness for timely response, and readiness for prompt recovery.

To proactively respond to natural disasters, the commune's Military Command regularly organizes training for militia forces, officers, and soldiers on rescue and relief plans. In addition, the commune is fully equipped with specialized equipment such as life jackets, lifebuoys, ropes, etc., to be used in emergency situations.

Commander of the Thanh Luong Commune Military Command, TRAN VAN KY

With a length of over 7km, the Can Le stream flows through many residential areas of Thanh Luong commune, posing a potential risk of flooding during the rainy season. However, thanks to the proactive efforts of the government and the people, Thanh Luong commune has gradually minimized damage caused by natural disasters. Images of people themselves leveling their ground and renovating livestock shelters; commune militia training in rescue operations and inspecting flood prevention and control equipment; and rapid response teams on standby along the stream banks... demonstrate the spirit of responsibility and community solidarity in jointly preventing and combating floods. Especially during the rainy season, the four key hamlets of Thanh Tan, Thanh Tuan, Thanh Kieu, and Thanh An are always staffed with personnel on duty 24/7 to monitor the situation and be ready to rescue people at any time.

Ms. Bui Thi Hong Ngat, Chairwoman of the Thanh Luong Commune People's Committee, said: "Every year, the commune establishes disaster prevention and control task forces in each hamlet. These teams are stationed on standby to ensure a quick response when storms and floods occur. Thanks to this, in recent years the commune has not recorded any loss of life, and property damage has decreased significantly."

In the context of increasingly complex climate change and the ever-present threat of natural disasters, Thanh Luong commune's proactive efforts in flood and storm prevention and control are a commendable example. Without waiting for or relying on external assistance, the people and authorities here have proactively adapted, transforming each rainy season from a nightmare into an insurmountable challenge through thorough preparation and unity.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/9/174054/chu-dong-phong-chong-bao-lut