Amidst the raging flood, keep your heart from giving up.

Eighty years of Vietnam's Meteorological and Hydrological Service is eighty years of silently standing alongside the people through every season of storms, floods, harsh weather, and changing climate. This year, that anniversary comes amidst special days, as Tuyen Quang is struggling to cope with a historic flood, considered unprecedented in decades.

Meteorological officers quietly carry out their observation duties.

As someone working in Meteorology and Hydrology, I will never forget those days when our colleagues, even though many of their homes were submerged in water, tirelessly worked at their posts, racing against every water level, every rain shower, every violent moment of nature.

Chasing after the floodwaters wasn't just a duty, it was a command from the heart. When the news broke, "The station is isolated, the water's all gone," the team only had time to rush to temporarily store their books and professional documents in nearby houses. Their own homes might be flooded, their belongings swept away, but the data – their only weapon for forecasting and warning about floods – had to be protected at all costs.

A husband called his wife, the phone ringing amidst a torrential downpour. The voice on the other end said, “I and Uncle Tuan are still navigating the sidewalk, following the floodwaters to mark the water level. It’s still raining non-stop. We haven’t had anything to eat or medicine since this morning. I feel so exhausted!” At that moment, all he could do was pray.

We are on duty 24/7 at the office, updating data hourly, and continuously issuing supplementary forecasts based on the rapid and unpredictable changes in rainfall and flooding. This allows us to stand alongside the people in the most difficult situations.

When the floods came, many meteorological and hydrological officers were simultaneously performing their duties and losing their property, with their homes submerged. Some put aside worries about their families and young children who had not yet eaten, and diligently worked with their records and data. Through torrential rain and rapidly rising floodwaters, without food or water, they still clutched their measuring instruments and tightly wrapped data in plastic to transport them to safety.

A thin raincoat, a few last batteries—yet they endured the sleepless night amidst the floods, not out of bravery, but out of a sense of responsibility. Because without data and early warnings, the people would be the ones who suffer the most.

Urgent calls like, "Ha, we can't get supplies to Duyen and Lan Anh!" or "The water's too high, we can't contact them..." created immense anxiety. "Is the water still rising!?" This repeated question reflected the people's deep concern and served as a command for us to continue working tirelessly.

For 80 years, these people have silently endured the storms. The Meteorology and Hydrology sector doesn't have any glorious achievements. But we have timely reports and accurate data. Those numbers, if no one had recorded them or measured them, would not exist.

Despite having almost all their clothes and belongings swept away by the flood at the station and facing potential danger, the three officers of the Ha Giang Hydrological Station, a Class I station in Tuyen Quang province, did not abandon their posts and successfully completed their work.

Chasing after the floodwaters, protecting records, collecting data, and updating forecasts hourly are non-stop tasks. Each news report represents sweat, interrupted sleep, and dry, sore eyes from monitoring data screens all night. And behind all that lies the worry and sacrifice of wives, husbands, and young children waiting in places where the floodwaters haven't yet receded.

Natural disasters are becoming increasingly severe, with extreme rainfall, flash floods, and landslides all bearing the clear imprint of global climate change. Each year, storm after storm, flood after flood, meteorologists and hydrologists must learn to adapt, modernize technology, and improve their expertise, but most importantly, they must keep their hearts unwavering.

For a country where no one is left behind, the Meteorology and Hydrology sector is not alone. We are part of a nationwide effort, working alongside disaster prevention forces, the military, police, medical personnel , and the media… to protect the people and the country during each rainy and stormy season.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the traditional day of the Vietnamese Meteorological and Hydrological Service (October 3, 1945 - October 3, 2025), we don't wish each other anything grand; we only hope for clear skies soon, for the people to be well-fed and safe, and for more people to "UNDERSTAND, EMPATHIZE, and SUPPORT" this silent journey. Because if there is one thing that keeps us going through every flood and every storm, it is: "Responsibility to the People – not a slogan, but a way of life."

We hope that our compatriots in the flood-affected areas will soon overcome their difficulties and return to peaceful lives. We wish our colleagues strength and resilience, and wish the meteorological and hydrological sector continued success in the journey ahead.

Le Thi Ha - Forecaster at Tuyen Quang Meteorological and Hydrological Station

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/giua-lu-du-giu-trai-tim-khong-lui-buoc-c4a2a44/