Gia Vien proactively "resolves" challenges of flood season

Construction of drilling and grouting to reinforce the left dike of Hoang Long (Section K10+150). Photo: Duc Lam

Experience from historical floods

Gia Vien has a low-lying terrain, and many rivers flow through the district, the largest of which is the Hoang Long River, formed by the confluence of two main branches, the Boi River and the Lang River, and flows into the Day River at Gian Khau. There are also many other small branches, but in general, the river network flowing into the Hoang Long River basin is fan-shaped, so when there is heavy rain, the water gathers at the same time, easily causing floods.

In 2024, the rivers in the district experienced 5 floods. Notably, on September 12, the water level on the Hoang Long River at Ben De reached 4.93 m, 0.93 m above alert level III. The flood caused more than 800 houses, hundreds of hectares of crops, and a number of schools and medical stations in the district to be flooded. However, thanks to proactive response and early prevention, the damage was minimized.

Mr. Dinh Van Luu, a resident of Gia Phong commune (Gia Vien district) shared: Through many generations of living with floods, we have gained a lot of experience to live safely. That is, proactively arranging the crop schedule and harvesting crops before the small floods come; proactively tying up and moving essential items to high places, storing clean water, food, and provisions early, even buying boats and life jackets, so when floods come, we don't have to worry about crop failure or lack of food and drink.

Comrade Dinh Thanh Nam, Chairman of Gia Phong Commune People's Committee added: Learning from previous floods, in the recent flood in September 2024, when the evacuation order was issued by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, according to the approved scenario, we immediately notified 400 households outside the North dike of the Ria River that had to be evacuated, and at the same time arranged the Shock Team with the army and police to each house, prioritizing the elderly and single-parent households to support the people. Therefore, in just a short time, all people and assets were moved to safe locations.

Over the years, Gia Vien district has always considered disaster prevention and control and search and rescue (PCTT&TKCN) as one of the top priorities to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. This is also an important task in the local socio-economic development strategy. The district's experience is to synchronously deploy many solutions. In particular, special attention is paid to PCTT&TKCN drills, considering this an opportunity for Party committees, authorities, and socio-political organizations to organize and operate the mechanism smoothly and practically, limiting the situation of passivity and surprise.

In addition, before each rainy and stormy season, localities conduct inspections and reviews to assess the current status of disaster prevention and control works, key vulnerable areas, dike systems, and irrigation works. Disaster prevention and control and search and rescue plans are developed systematically, in accordance with the characteristics of each locality and each sector, ensuring consistency and synchronization; focusing on the "4 on-site" work of preparing materials, means, and adequate forces to meet disaster prevention and control and search and rescue requirements.

Ready for "battle" 2025

Taking us to inspect the current status of the dikes in the area, the leader of Gia Vien district said that the dike system and works in the district have basically been invested in, repaired and upgraded to be able to withstand floods according to the design water level, meeting the requirements of PCTT&TKCN. In the recent flood of 2024, on the left dike of Hoang Long river, there were some leaks and seepage points, but they have now been drilled and grouted to prevent seepage; the subsidence and cracks on the dike surface have also been treated to ensure safety. In particular, the wall of the Gia Tran pumping station's discharge channel that was cracked and leaked last year has been temporarily repaired, and the project to build a new Gia Tran pumping station is being urgently implemented.

However, natural disasters always have potential for abnormal factors, so the locality is continuing to inspect and re-evaluate the quality of works, identify key weak points to take timely measures for repair and handling. In addition, the district has arranged shock teams, prepared hundreds of cubic meters of rubble, hundreds of stone cages, thousands of sacks ready to respond when necessary; supplemented rescue vehicles, supplies, patrol forces, dike guards, shock forces for disaster prevention and control at the commune level, coordinated with military units to perform disaster prevention and control and search and rescue tasks in the area.

As the industrial center of the province with Gian Khau industrial park, 3 industrial clusters are Gia Phu, Gia Lap, Gia Van, therefore, in the flood prevention plan, the district also pays special attention to the issue of drainage and flood prevention for these areas because even a small mistake will cause huge damage. Flooding in the industrial park not only causes traffic jams, goods transportation and production of enterprises but also negatively affects investment attraction activities. The locality requires the District Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited and related units to closely coordinate with enterprises to do a good job of coordination, regularly inspect, dredge, and ensure clear flow before the rainy season. Urgently renovate, repair, and upgrade the system, ensuring no local flooding when there is heavy rain.

Recently, the district has also approved the PCTT&TKCN plan for 2025. In which, it carefully and specifically prepares for each situation and response plan. Focusing on implementing the principle of "Proactive prevention, timely response, urgent recovery" and thoroughly implementing the motto "4 on-site". Promoting the combined strength of the entire political system, mobilizing the entire people and society to participate in the work of preventing, responding to, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

In particular, in the context of the current administrative unit arrangement, in order to avoid work interruption, subjectivity, and negligence, the district has requested the immediate development of a disaster prevention and control plan for communes and commune clusters to ensure effectiveness and practicality.

With the proactive development of prevention plans, especially the lessons learned from always being ready to prepare materials, means, forces, and logistics according to the "4 on-site" motto, we are confident that the disaster prevention and control work in the area will be proactive in all aspects, contributing to protecting the safety of lives and property of the State and the People.

Nguyen Luu

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/gia-vien-chu-dong-hoa-giai-thach-thuc-mua-mua-lu-033051.htm