Radio waves – information fulcrum in the midst of flood waters

During the days when Typhoon Yagi and its circulation destroyed the electricity, telephone and internet systems, disrupting communications, people in the disaster-affected areas faced the risk of isolation leading to many dangers. At that time, radio waves were an important support to connect information, helping people to promptly prevent dangers and seek help.

Timely warning before a fierce storm

One day before storm No. 3, also known as super typhoon Yagi, hit the mainland, throughout the villages of Phuc Khanh commune (Bao Yen district, Lao Cai ), loudspeakers continuously broadcast a radio program reminding people about storm safety measures and updating all developments of the storm.

At that time, despite being busy with urgent work to prevent the storm, Mr. Hoang Van Tua, 58 years old, always listened to the voice coming from the radio that he always carried with him to update information about storm No. 3. He bought this radio 10 years ago, and since then it has been working very well, only needing to change the battery and no repairs.

People in Lang Nu village (Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai) reinforce loudspeakers to inform people during the process of overcoming damage after storm No. 3. (Photo: Minh Duc)

“Normally, when I work in the fields, I always bring this radio to listen to the news. But it was only after experiencing the recent difficult days that I realized the importance of it and of radio waves. Before storm No. 3 made landfall, Voice of Vietnam continuously updated news about the storm, helping people anywhere, whatever they were doing, to grasp the developments. In a hurry, I cannot always watch TV or phone, only the radio is the most convenient, I can bring it anywhere, and still follow it while working.

When the storm hit and knocked out all the power systems, telecommunications networks, and the Internet, we still had the radio station by our side. At that time, radio was the only means to help us get information,” Mr. Tua said.

Like Mr. Tua, Mr. Van Ngoc Thang (Coc Lau commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai) also relied on radio during the days when storm No. 3 hit. At that time, many places in Coc Lau had no electricity, people could not watch TV to follow the storm news, and the phone signal was also unstable and unusable. However, just by turning on the radio, Mr. Thang and the people could update the storm situation every hour, and at the same time listen to the warnings of the authorities.

“Knowing the advantages of radio, before the storm, I bought more batteries so I could listen to the radio regularly. Thanks to listening to news on the radio, my family and I were able to proactively plan for storm prevention. As a result, the damage was also reduced a lot,” said Mr. Thang.

In addition to radio, information is also broadcast to people through the village loudspeaker system. During the most tense and urgent times, local authorities turn on loudspeakers to remind people of what to do and what not to do during storms and floods.

“With a frequency of about one bulletin every hour, we can listen to a lot of news no matter where we are. The continuous broadcast of bulletins has created a sense of urgency, helping people to be more proactive and proactive in storm prevention,” Mr. Thang added.

With storms and floods destroying electricity, telephone and internet systems, disrupting communications, people in disaster-affected areas can only listen to news on the radio. (Photo: Tran Loc)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Culture - Sports and Communications Center of Sa Pa town, Lao Cai, said that forecasts, warnings, and urgent instructions about storms have been broadcast with high frequency over the past few days. In addition to FM, information is also broadcast through a system of 206 grassroots loudspeakers using IP technology, bringing about very significant results.

“The commune radio station operates fully and according to regulations, it should only operate for 3 hours a day, but in the past few days it has been broadcasting continuously, transmitting all telegrams and weather forecasts, every 30 minutes. This helps people to be more vigilant, that is why rescue work, rescue, and evacuation of people from dangerous areas are carried out in the best way,” said Ms. Huong.

Stay calm in the rain and flood thanks to the radio

Many people confided that they had never felt so clearly and fully the great role and significance of radio information as during the floods and landslides after storm No. 3, especially when the entire power grid, internet, and telephone systems were completely cut off.

Mr. Trieu Van Thuan, 68 years old, living in village 3, Tran Ninh, Tan Thinh commune, Yen Bai city, said that in the recent terrible flood, his house and more than 30 families in the village were submerged in water, completely lost electricity and internet.

“Communication was completely cut off, so we were very passive and worried. Without information, how could we try to find a way to hold on! Fortunately, news from the Voice of Vietnam was continuously broadcast through the ward loudspeaker system, helping us to grasp the developments of the floodwaters, from which we could have a plan to protect our lives and property.

"In a seemingly hopeless moment amidst the danger of historic natural disasters, it can be said that the radio helped us calm down," said Mr. Thuan.

Old radios always play their role in providing information and are trusted by people during storms and floods. (Photo: Tran Loc)

According to Mr. Giang A Tong, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Yen Bai province, while other information channels were interrupted, information on radio waves still reached the people, echoing amidst the rain and floods.

Most people pay attention to the radio. They are excited by every piece of information broadcast from the radio and burst into tears at the good news, such as the news that the Thac Ba hydroelectric dam was not destroyed or that the water level has receded… Radio helps people maintain their faith during the rainy and flood days, reassured that the government and people of the whole country are always there, ready to support.

Mr. Giang A Tong commented: “ The role of radio in daily communication is already good, but it is even better during this natural disaster. People are not interrupted by information because the station broadcasts a lot of news, regardless of the situation of floods and landslides, so people can evacuate in time, prevent and limit unfortunate consequences that may occur.

Only when the Internet, electricity and telephone lines were completely cut off did one realize how important radio waves were. The situation was urgent, other communication channels were cut off while officials could not immediately go to every corner to propagate and mobilize people to evacuate. Amidst the pouring rain and immense floodwaters, the sound of loudspeakers warmed people's hearts, giving them a support that made them believe they would not be abandoned.

According to Mr. Tong, the radio system also has a special role in calling for rescue as well as helping people overcome the consequences and rebuild after storms and floods.

Staff of the Center for Communication and Culture of Tram Tau district (Yen Bai) installed a loudspeaker system to the villages.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nghi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Coc Lau Commune (Bac Ha District, Lao Cai) said: " Although there are many means of propaganda and information transmission today, radio still plays an extremely important and effective role."

According to him, Coc Lau commune currently has 10 loudspeaker clusters located in densely populated areas in operation: “On September 6-7, the days before the storm, we had radio news broadcasts for the people, thanks to which flood and storm prevention activities were very effective. However, due to the mountainous area, the villages are far apart and dangerous, so in many places, the loudspeakers have not reached. In the coming time, we will continue to invest and develop loudspeaker clusters to reach every corner and village so that people can access the best information.”

After the storm and flood have passed, instead of disaster prevention bulletins, radio waves help people in remote areas quickly return to normal life by broadcasting calls for support, assistance, or information and instructions on overcoming the consequences of storms and floods...

"Radio is a good, irreplaceable friend that we, the highland people, trust very much," Mr. Nghi affirmed./.

Source: https://mic.gov.vn/song-phat-thanh-diem-tua-thong-tin-giua-vung-lu-du-197240919094432313.htm