Storm shelters... filled with heartfelt affection.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Hot meals, loaves of bread, bottles of water, and cartons of milk for children... shared among people in storm shelters not only alleviated the anxieties and worries of the people as Typhoon No. 5 approached, but also demonstrated the involvement, determination, and responsibility of the local government and functional forces in the province.

Warm, loving meals in the storm shelter.

Over the past few days, due to the impact of Typhoon No. 5, most localities in the province have experienced torrential rain, with fields submerged in water. People are worried and anxious, and local authorities and functional forces are also busy. Therefore, the meal for the people sheltering from the storm in Loc Ha village, Nhi Son commune, today, though simple and modest with just a few plates of boiled vegetables and some braised fish, feels warmer than ever.

Quickly scooping rice and distributing it to each person, Ms. Thao Thi Dua, who came here to take shelter from the storm, shared: "During the rainy season, many villages in the commune are frequently flooded and cut off by landslides. Therefore, before the impact of typhoon No. 5, my family, as well as many other villagers, were quickly assisted by the local government and functional forces in the commune to evacuate to the village's cultural center to take shelter. For the past few days, the heavy rain and strong winds have made us constantly anxious and worried about our houses and fields. However, at the community cultural center, the care and attention from the local government, from meals to sleeping arrangements, has somewhat helped vulnerable people like us to overcome the difficulties with peace of mind."

"Because of that warm feeling, every year when the rainy season passes and we move the community center to a storm shelter, each of us fondly remembers the warm, cozy meals we shared together, and the thoughtful gestures of care and attention from the local authorities and relevant agencies. That feeling is so precious and heartwarming," Ms. Dua shared.

Returning to the community center after dealing with the storm, the village head of Loc Ha, Gia Po Nai, looked thoughtfully at the children sleeping peacefully inside and couldn't help but say with a sigh: "During the rainy season, Loc Ha village is always at high risk of landslides and flooding. Therefore, when Typhoon No. 5 was about to make landfall, we quickly spread the word and encouraged villagers to come to the community center and the Loc Ha kindergarten to take shelter safely. At these designated shelters, the local authorities had meticulously prepared living supplies, ensuring cleanliness and spaciousness so that people could feel secure while sheltering."

Before the losses from Typhoon No. 3 could even subside, floods swept through, leaving people in mountainous communes facing inundation and landslides. In this time of successive natural disasters, the bonds of solidarity among the people grew even warmer. At the Chiềng Ai village cultural center in Bá Thước commune, since becoming a temporary shelter for villagers living in vulnerable areas, despite lacking essential amenities – just mats or makeshift tables and chairs for resting – the people still feel a sense of security.

Among the households evacuated to the Chieng Ai village cultural center by the Ba Thuoc commune authorities, five members of Mr. Truong Van Thuy's family were present. For Mr. Thuy, this was a memorable and unforgettable "storm escape." The evacuation was swift and received dedicated support from the authorities and officials. Mr. Thuy confided: "Our house was built on the hillside, in an area at risk of landslides. After being informed and explained by officials, for safety reasons, we went to the storm shelter arranged by the commune at the Chieng Ai village cultural center. Hearing the weather forecast about a strong storm and prolonged heavy rain, we were very worried. We didn't know if our house and belongings were safe."

During the storm shelter on August 24th at the village cultural center, the majority were elderly people, women, children, and families living in vulnerable areas. The hardships and anxieties of the storm brought them closer together. Ms. Dao Thi Thao, an official from the Economic Department of the Ba Thuoc Commune People's Committee, said: “The temporary shelters were provided with rice, fish sauce, salt, and basic necessities by the commune. The people shared and showed great mutual support and consensus. They shared family stories, the hardships and difficulties of life, and encouraged each other to persevere, working together with the authorities to ensure safety during the storm.”

Those evacuated from vulnerable areas to storm shelters carried mixed emotions – joy at being taken to safety, sadness at having their property and homes left behind, facing the ravages of nature. Forecasts indicate continued instability in the coming days, and with the difficult terrain and ongoing risks of landslides and floods in Ba Thuoc commune, these temporary shelters must remain in place to protect the people. This is not only the responsibility of the government and relevant forces, but also a matter of individual commitment and cooperation from every citizen to overcome the harsh challenges posed by nature.

In Dien Lu commune, one of the critical areas, nearly 280 residents have been urgently evacuated to safe shelters in village cultural centers. They arrived – some contributing bags of rice, others bringing blankets and electric rice cookers… With the thoughtful and responsible care of the authorities, organizations, and generous hearts, they have found safe refuge filled with human kindness. The Cao Duc Toan family in Co Luon village, Dien Lu commune, with six members, has been sheltered from the flood at the village's old cultural center since the night of August 24th. Mr. Toan shared: “After being relocated here, we received visits and encouragement from local leaders, police, and soldiers. From facilities for daily life to support with drinking water, rice, instant noodles, and other necessities, everything was very thoughtful. The local government and villagers helped us cook meals and provided accommodation until the floods completely subsided. We felt less worried about having to temporarily leave our homes.”

Comrade Le Quang Huy, Secretary of the Dien Lu Commune Party Committee, said: "The locality mobilized village cultural centers and households with multi-story houses in the villages to provide flood shelter for local people. Due to the impact of Typhoon No. 5, Dien Lu commune organized the relocation of 72 households with 275 people to relatives' homes, households in the same locality, and village cultural centers. In addition to providing essential supplies to the families, we also mobilized people in the commune to contribute labor, food, and drinks to those affected by the floods. At present, the rescue efforts for people in flooded areas are ensuring safety.”

During the days of devastating natural disasters, military and police officers and soldiers left a lasting positive impression on the hearts of the people. From the night of August 24th, under heavy rain, officers and soldiers of the armed forces braved the elements to evacuate people, especially the elderly, children, and their belongings, to safety. With dedication and tireless effort, these forces worked without rest, even forgetting to eat...

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Trong Tai, Commander of the 2nd Naval Squadron of the Provincial Border Guard, said: "The sea dike in Hai Binh ward was breached in 2017, but it has not been reinforced or upgraded to date. Given the complex developments of Typhoon No. 5, on the night of August 24th, we immediately evacuated residents to safe areas. The unit mobilized forces to support people in implementing necessary measures, such as anchoring boats and being ready to participate in repairing dike damage should a bad situation occur... During the performance of our duties, we also received attention and support from the people themselves to overcome the consequences of the natural disaster; people donated drinking water and food to the soldiers..."

People brought their belongings to Thieu Duong Secondary School to take shelter from the storm.

Looking at the increasing amount of belongings and household items that residents of the former Thieu Duong ward (now Ham Rong ward) are bringing to the school for safekeeping to avoid Typhoon No. 5, Mr. Vu Quang, the principal of Thieu Duong Secondary School, with teary eyes from many nights of staying up with the residents to prepare for the storm, couldn't help but say with emotion: "The area of ​​the former Thieu Duong ward has always been a flood-prone zone, so when a typhoon comes, it's inevitable that water will flood people's houses. That's why every year during the rainy season, there are always a lot of trucks carrying belongings, rice, pots and pans... brought to the school for safekeeping. If the water rises high, people also proactively come to the school to take shelter. Therefore, to ensure safety and support the people during the storm, the school always arranges staff and teachers to be on duty at the school 24/7."

In the storm, some people carried elderly people across the floodwaters, others cradled newborn babies, and still others silently gave up their blankets, shared their sleeping space, and even their meals... in the storm shelters.

The storm has passed, the floods have come. But human kindness remains – silent, responsible, resilient, and overflowing with love!

News Reporting Team

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nha-tranh-bao-bin-rin-nghia-tinh-259718.htm