Adapt to avoid being passive in the face of natural disasters

Having suffered the severe impacts of major storms - Yagi (2024) and Matmo (storm No. 11) for two consecutive years, Thai Nguyen people have gradually developed the ability to "live with floods". Each storm that passes through leaves behind damage, but also comes with valuable lessons, helping the community know how to cope with natural disasters.

Households, units and businesses are still focusing on overcoming the consequences of floods.

It has been more than 10 days since the floodwaters receded after storm No. 11, but many households in communes and wards in the province are still busy cleaning up and overcoming the consequences. For many people, the memories of these two storms will surely remain deeply engraved in their minds.

Ms. Giang Thi Kim Quy, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Residential Group 90, Phan Dinh Phung Ward, shared: I am over 60 years old, but I have just witnessed such terrible floods as the past two years. Previously, when building a house, my family planned to prevent river water from rising, so we built a stilt house. But what was unexpected was that the water level was more than 3m high, causing the first floor furniture to be damaged even though it was placed high. Faced with this situation, the leaders of Residential Group 90 are considering a plan to equip boats and make rafts to proactively respond and support people when floods occur.

Mr. Duong Quy Minh, a resident of the group, recounted his experience of “flood prevention in the worst-case scenario”: After Typhoon Yagi , when Typhoon No. 11 came, in anticipation of rising water, I moved essential items and clothes to a higher house across the street. Unexpectedly, the water rose so quickly that the house where I stored my belongings was also flooded. Next time, I will closely monitor flood warning bulletins to be proactive early.

Faced with increasingly severe weather events, many families choose to adapt “from the ground up”: changing the structure of their homes, organizing their living spaces, elevating their assets, and choosing items suitable for possible flooding conditions.

Due to proactively moving all activities to the second floor, Mr. Dam Duy Hai's family in Phan Dinh Phung ward suffered insignificant damage due to floods.

Mr. Dam Duy Hai, Phan Dinh Phung Ward, said: My house is near the end of the drainage system of Thai Nguyen City, so it is often flooded. In 2024, Typhoon Yagi flooded my house more than 1 meter deep, and many of my belongings were damaged even though I had jacked them up to the maximum. Last June, we invested 300 million VND to build a second floor in a modular style, moving the living room, two bedrooms and kitchen upstairs. The first floor only has a few sets of tables and chairs and easily movable assets. Thanks to that, during Typhoon No. 11, my house only had a broken water pump and a few books.

Unlike Mr. Dam Duy Hai's house, Ms. Dang Thi Le Thuy, KT Xanh Co., Ltd., whose house and office are nearby, said: Last year, my house was flooded about 1 meter; this year, I thought it would only be 1.5 meters at most, so I asked my staff to put furniture and documents up 2 meters, but unexpectedly the water rose more than 3 meters. After this time, we decided to build a loft and move the entire office up higher.

Buying furniture made of materials other than wood is becoming more popular.

Not only changing the "construction" part, people also adjust the "use" part. Instead of industrial wood products that are easily damaged when soaked in water, the consumer trend shifts to tables, chairs, beds and cabinets made of natural wood (solid wood), iron, stainless steel, plastic or glass to increase durability in humid, flooded environments.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu, owner of Tu Tam Furniture store, noted: In recent days, customers tend to choose furniture that "lives with the flood". Plywood still has buyers because of its aesthetics and reasonable price, but the majority has turned to natural wood, glass tables, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nang (Group 8, Quan Trieu Ward), a customer at Tu Tam Furniture Store, analyzed the damage experience: All the plywood cabinets and tables in my house were damaged after this flood. I decided to buy a glass TV shelf and a plastic cabinet so that if there is another flood, I can still use it after being soaked for a few days.

Having gone through the floods, people are learning to live more safely and proactively with natural disasters. Even small adjustments in home design, space organization, choice of materials… will create a “soft shield” for each person, each family and the whole community.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202510/thich-ung-de-khong-bi-dong-truoc-thien-tai-acf7d42/