Proactively responding to floods: Government and people join hands

At this time, Khanh Hoa is entering the peak of the rainy and flood season. The weather is forecast to continue to be unusual, with the risk of heavy rain causing landslides, flash floods, inundation... at an alarming level, significantly affecting production, daily life, property and people's lives. To minimize possible damage, authorities at all levels, agencies, units and people have proactively developed plans to respond to natural disasters.

Landslide on Provincial Road 9 through Cam An commune on October 28.

Room is key

Mr. Chau Van Nghiep's house is located at the foot of Phuoc Dong mountain (Nam Nha Trang ward) - one of the areas vulnerable to landslides every time there is prolonged heavy rain. Therefore, he has just completed creating a drainage ditch and reinforcing a temporary embankment behind the house. "As soon as it rains heavily, I check immediately, and as soon as I see soft soil and murky water, my whole family evacuates. Not only my family, but also the people here have been informed and instructed on the signs of landslide risks so that they can proactively respond," said Mr. Nghiep.

Workers monitor Dac Loc Lake (North Nha Trang ward) through a camera system.

According to preliminary statistics, in Nam Nha Trang ward, there are more than 8,000 households with more than 34,000 people living in areas at risk of landslides when heavy rains last for a long time. In order to proactively respond to floods and natural disasters, the locality regularly inspects the area, grasps the situation at the grassroots level, reports accurate information; and at the same time, has a plan to urgently evacuate households in dangerous areas, at risk of landslides to a safe place.

In coastal areas, to cope with strong storms and rough waves, people have also been proactive in tying down and reinforcing their houses, preparing necessary materials, and being ready to evacuate immediately when requested. The family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hanh (Dong Ninh Hoa ward) not only ties up the roof of their house every time they hear news of a big storm affecting the locality, but also prepares an "emergency bag" (including: documents, medicine, flashlight, dry food). "In recent years, storms seem to be getting stronger. My house is next to the sea, the wind causes big waves, sometimes the waves hit the house so we have to be proactive in taking precautions," said Mrs. Hanh.

In many places, women's clubs, farmers, veterans, the elderly... also organize instructions on safety skills during the rainy and flood season, from protecting children and the elderly to how to evacuate people and property from vulnerable areas, how to preserve agricultural products to minimize damage. Through discussions with local authorities, it is shown that: Listening - understanding - correct action of the people is the decisive factor in the effectiveness of disaster response work. Because more than anyone else, the people, especially households living in vulnerable areas, always understand the dangers caused by natural disasters.

Proactive response

Khanh Hoa has a typical mountainous terrain that covers most of its area, with narrow plains and short, steep rivers and streams. Therefore, when it rains heavily, floodwaters rise very quickly, causing both flooding downstream and landslides in mountainous areas. According to statistics, currently, the whole province has more than 11,000 households (about 47,000 people) living in areas at risk of landslides. At the same time, there are more than 2,900 households (more than 12,100 people) living in areas at risk of flash floods and nearly 2,300 households (more than 7,740 people) living along rivers and coastal areas that may be subject to landslides. These "hotspot" areas have been specifically identified. Maps of landslide, flash flood and flood risk areas... have been updated to each village and residential area across the province.

Head of Thanh Dat Residential Group (Nam Nha Trang Ward) propagates and guides people to be ready to comply with evacuation notices in case of emergency. Photo: Vu Hoa

To improve capacity, proactively respond to all levels of natural disaster risks, and minimize damage caused by storms and natural disasters, every year, the Provincial People's Committee directs departments, branches, localities, units and relevant forces to develop plans to respond to natural disasters according to the provincial level of natural disaster risks and deploy the development of response plans at the local and unit levels; step up propaganda, dissemination and mobilization of people to strictly comply with the law on natural disaster prevention and control and provide skills for people to prevent and respond to natural disaster risks; strengthen guidance and inspection of all levels and sectors to develop and organize the implementation of plans and solutions to prevent, control and overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

At the same time, inspect, review and evaluate the current status of the dike system and irrigation works before the flood season, promptly repair and fix damaged and degraded items of the dike system, dams, and means of natural disaster prevention and control; organize reviews and prepare forces, means, equipment and tools to support localities in responding to incidents and natural disasters and organize timely and effective rescue; prepare forces and means to protect security, order and social safety in disaster-affected areas, especially evacuation areas; protect key works and protect the property of the State, people and enterprises.

Landslide on negative slope on Provincial Road 9. (Photo: VAN KY taken at the end of October 2025)

Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Head of the Provincial Civil Defense Command said: Along with the initiative of the people and local authorities, the authorities also combine terrain data, weather forecasts and field reflections to come up with timely and accurate response plans. The plan to evacuate people in vulnerable areas will be immediately activated and deployed based on a detailed response scenario. Each commune-level government also has a plan to reserve enough food, clean water and medicine for 5-7 days for households that may be isolated. In disaster response plans, protecting people's lives is the top priority, evacuation orders are always implemented earlier, not waiting until a natural disaster occurs to evacuate people.

With the motto of taking prevention as the main priority, the government and people in the province are urgently preparing human resources, material resources and raising the spirit of readiness to respond to storms and floods to ensure the highest safety for people and property.

DETERMINATION

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202511/chu-dong-ung-pho-mua-lu-chinh-quyen-va-nguoi-dan-cung-vao-cuoc-52b17db/