Experience in coping with rising flood waters of Nghe An people

In recent years, natural disasters and floods in Nghe An have tended to be erratic, with many large floods appearing suddenly, affecting thousands of households. However, instead of passively responding, people in the downstream areas of Lam and Con rivers have gradually formed a more proactive, systematic and effective awareness and habit of "living with floods".

Proactively improve housing and protect property

The family of Mr. Tran Hai Duong in Phu Lap hamlet, Bich Hao commune is a typical example. Because he lives in the lower reaches of Lam river, which is often flooded when the floodwaters rise, Mr. Duong invested in building a loft about 3m above the floor. The loft floor is made of good, sturdy wood, large enough for the whole family to temporarily live in during rainy and flood days.

Mr. Tran Hai Duong's family in Phu Lap hamlet, Bich Hao commune moved household items to the mezzanine before the floodwaters rose. Photo: Xuan Hoang

When the water started to rise, all members and essential belongings were moved upstairs to ensure safety of life and property. The family's cattle also had their own barn on high ground, with a source of straw stored in advance.

According to Mr. Nguyen Khanh Thanh - Chairman of Bich Hao Commune People's Committee, due to the low-lying terrain, the locality suffers from deep flooding every year. Thanks to experience gained through many flood seasons, more than 80% of households in the commune have proactively built mezzanines or high lofts in their houses.

Along with that, the commune has received support from the State to build solid flood shelters to serve people in emergency situations. Many hamlets also mobilized social resources to buy motorboats to serve the transportation of food and necessities during the flood days, helping people feel more secure when the flood season comes.

Solid flood shelter in Bich Hao commune. Photo: Xuan Hoang

"Now people are much more aware, from arranging things to ensuring electrical safety and keeping livestock, everything is done very methodically," said Mr. Nguyen Khanh Thanh.

Not only Bich Hao, people in the communes along the Con River in the old Tan Ky district such as Tan Ky, Tan An, Nghia Hanh... are all familiar with the scene of flood water coming every rainy season. Thousands of households along both banks of the Con River often suffer from deep flooding, so most families build shelves or mezzanines to place furniture, preserve property, rice, and corn when the water rises. Many households also invest in making attics close to the roof to prevent unusually large floods.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc My's family in Dien Nam hamlet, Tan Ky commune invested in building a mezzanine to live in when the floodwaters rise. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc My's family in Dien Nam hamlet, Tan Ky commune is one of the pioneers. Eight years ago, he spent 70 million VND to build a 4m high, 40m² wide mezzanine made of water-resistant wood, with a convenient staircase. During the recent historic flood, the Con River rose to a depth of 3.8m into the house, and his whole family took shelter in the mezzanine for many days, with enough food and water. "If it weren't for the mezzanine, the whole family would have had to stay elsewhere," Mr. My shared.

Tan Ky commune is one of the localities that often floods when the Con River rises. Right from the beginning of the rainy season, the government held a meeting with the people, reviewed the areas at risk of landslides and deep flooding to develop a response plan.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Son - Chairman of Tan Ky Commune People's Committee said: "We asked hamlet chiefs and inter-family groups to propagate to people to move their assets and livestock to higher ground, and at the same time arrange forces to be on duty 24/7 at vulnerable points. Thanks to that, when the floodwaters rose quickly, most people did not suffer major damage."

People in Bich Hao and Lam Thanh communes invest in buying boats to move around when the Lam River water level rises. Photo: Xuan Hoang

People’s awareness of self-prevention is also increasing. They actively monitor weather forecasts, prepare sandbags, dry firewood, rice, clean water, flashlights... enough for 3-4 days. Some households also build temporary barns on high mounds or floating floors to protect their livestock.

In Lam Thanh commune (formerly Hung Nguyen district), where the Lam River rises rapidly after heavy rains, many families always have aluminum boats ready to move when necessary. “The floods have been erratic in recent years, sometimes the water has flooded the house in just a few hours. My family always puts up high cabinets and beds, stores dry food and drinking water for 3-5 days to prevent isolation,” a resident shared.

Many hamlets in Bich Hao commune mobilized social resources to purchase boats and proactively move people and property when floodwaters came. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In the communes of the old Thanh Chuong district, people have formed “inter-family safety groups” and regularly warn each other by phone or loudspeaker whenever water from upstream flows in. They also buy rainwater storage devices, high stoves and reserve food storage.

Community power in flood season

The bright spot in the disaster prevention work in Nghe An is the spirit of solidarity and mutual support of the people. In the communes of Tan Ky, Tan An, Nghia Hanh, Bich Hao... the youth union members are assigned in groups to help evacuate the elderly, children, and lonely people to safe places. When the water recedes, they help clear mud, clear sewers, clean schools and medical stations, contributing to the early stabilization of life.

Local forces were mobilized to clean up after the flood. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Many localities have also made good use of the role of grassroots communication systems. In Bich Hao commune, flood information is continuously updated via loudspeakers and the community Zalo group, helping to quickly warn each household. Notifications about water levels and safe evacuation instructions are broadcast at night, thereby significantly reducing risks when floodwaters come.

Thanks to the government's strong direction and close coordination between the police, army and militia forces, flood prevention work this year in Nghe An has had many positive changes. Many communes have created flood maps, identified risk areas, and proactively evacuated people when necessary. Shock teams have been trained in rescue skills, evacuating people and saving property in conditions of heavy rain and fast flowing water.

Bich Hao commune submerged in floodwaters due to the impact of recent storm No. 10. Photo taken on October 1. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In the context of increasingly complex climate change, floods can appear unexpectedly and irregularly. Proactive response, community solidarity and responsibility of each household are the solid foundation to help Nghe An minimize damage, protect lives and property and maintain stable production.

From the experience of "living with floods", Nghe An people are gradually turning difficulties into valuable lessons, contributing to building a safe community that can adapt sustainably to natural disasters./.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/kinh-nghiem-ung-pho-nuoc-lu-dang-cua-nguoi-dan-xu-nghe-10308090.html