In 2022, there is a possibility of unusually strong storms

On April 25, at the Government headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh - Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Chairman of the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue (SAR) chaired the National Conference on Disaster Prevention and Rescue in 2022. The conference connected online to over 700 bridge points of People's Committees in 63 provinces and central cities as well as People's Committees of communes, districts across the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Deputy Head of the Standing Steering Committee, said that in 2021, around the world, although countries have made great efforts to prevent and control natural disasters, 16,000 people have died or gone missing, the total economic loss was over 340 billion USD and affected all aspects of life, economy - society across many countries and regions.

In Vietnam, with the participation of the entire political system, community, businesses, especially the local government, the disaster prevention and control work has achieved many results, minimizing the loss of lives and properties in 2021. Specifically, 108 dead or missing people (a decrease of 70% compared to 2020); economic loss of 5,200 billion VND (down by 87% compared to 2020), the lowest loss in recent years.

Minister Le Minh Hoan said that although natural disasters did not happen as quickly and as fiercely as in 2020, they still developed complicatedly and abnormally in the first few months of 2022 with unseasonal heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms over a wide area at the end of March and beginning of April in the central provinces; record cold weather in late February in the northern mountainous area; earthquakes increased in both intensity and frequency in Kon Plong district, Kon Tum province; Besides the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has had a significant impact on disaster prevention activities.

Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep added that in the first few months of 2022, natural disasters in our country have shown complicated and unusual developments, typically: The freezing, damaging cold wave lasting from February 19 to 24 in the Northern provinces has caused the temperature to drop deeply, in some regions, the lowest temperature recorded is below 0 degrees Celsius including Mau Son (Lang Son) where the temperature dropped to -1.4 degrees Celsius. This is the strongest cold front in the last 40 years compared to the same period.

Anomalies of weather and natural disasters are also reflected in unusually heavy rains, floods in the middle of the dry season, accompanied by thunderstorms and high waves from March 30 to April 2 from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa with a total rainfall of 200-600 mm, of which particularly heavy rains occured in areas such as at Khe Tre (Thua Thien - Hue) at 835 mm. This is the heaviest rainfall recorded in the last 60 years compared to the same period.

"Total damage caused by natural disasters from the beginning of 2022 up to now is estimated at 2,400 billion VND, nearly half of the economic damage caused by natural disasters in 2021. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, in 2022, there is a possibility of unusually strong hurricanes with about 12-14 storms and tropical depressions occuring over the East Sea. For the entire country, there is a high possibility of extreme rain events," said Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

Disaster forecasting needs to be more promptly and more accurate

Orienting the natural disaster prevention task in the near future, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh stated: "We must determine the natural disaster prevention task in 2022 and the following years will be very complicated, burdensome, demanding great responsibility, efforts of the whole political system from the central to grassroots levels, the armed forces and each citizen".

With that determination, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that ministries, branches and localities need to focus on 6 groups of specific tasks.

Firstly, it is necessary to renew and improve the capacity of disaster monitoring, supervision, forecasting and warning. Forecast quality is a decisive factor and basis in proactively, early, remotely directing and operating disaster response. This is a very difficult job, requiring the responsibility from the team and large investment resources.

"On April 21, 2022, I signed and promulgated the Plan to implement the Directive by the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in hydro-meteorological work to meet the requirements of national building and defense, in which priority is given to investment in hydro-meteorological monitoring, forecasting and warning technology in the direction of modern, synchronous, automated, multi-objective integration, especially rain, flood and meteorological forecasting. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is requested to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with central ministries, branches to seriously and effectively implement the Plan", emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.

In addition, it is necessary to promptly complete the construction of the disaster risk zoning map. Effectively deploy the development strategy of the hydrometeorology sector towards 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Secondly, with the motto of prevention, directing early and remotely, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that it is necessary to immediately carry out inspection and review of plans and projects for disaster prevention in 2022 across the country.

Thirdly, improve the quality of consulting, directing, operating, mobilizing and coordinating forces to respond to natural disasters and incidents. Strengthen the emergency forces for natural disaster prevention at the grassroots level because this is the most direct force, responsible for handling according to the motto 4-on-site when natural disasters and incidents occur. Additionally, it is also necessary to gradually build a professional and modern force to deal with complex situations.

Fourthly, promote information and communication work, strongly apply information technology, innovate methods of information on natural disasters to each local in the affected area.

"Fifthly, it is necessary to pay attention to investment in disaster prevention. Investment in disaster prevention is investment in sustainable development. Prioritize allocating funds to promptly overcome incidents, upgrade dikes, dams, prevent and control riverbank, coastal erosion, invest in specialized equipment for search and rescue; support impoverished households in building houses to prevent storms and floods...", Deputy Prime Minister said.

Sixthly, effectively implement directives, resolutions, policies and laws on prevention of natural disasters, incidents, search and rescue. Review and improve the law, build socialization policies to encourage the participation of businesses and people in the work of natural disasters prevention.

In order to respond to natural disasters in the near future, the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control suggested that local authorities at all levels from now until the end of 2022 should focus on developing and implementing disaster prevention and control plans, review reponse plans to natural disasters in accordance with the specific situation and conditions in each locality; organize rehearsals according to approved plans and scenarios.

At the same time, assign specific tasks to members of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue at all levels, along with the responsibility of the head. Allocate resources, invest in equipment and support tools forforces working on disaster prevention and control.

Integrate content of natural disaster prevention and control into socio-economic development master plans, programs and activities at all levels in localities. Strictly manage the use of coastal and riverside land; strictly handle illegal encroachment, use that obstruct flood drainage and affect the safety of natural disaster prevention and control works.

Implement a set of indicators to assess provincial-level disaster prevention and control, associate building safe communities with new rural construction, focus on building, consolidating and improving the capacity and operational efficiency of the natural disaster prevention response forces in the localities.

Perform management to ensure the safety of the dyke system, reservoirs and dams; Operate reservoirs, information, ensuring safety for the construction and downstream.

Prioritize medium-term investment plans, use local budget reserves to invest in, repair damaged natural disaster prevention and control works, arrange and stabilize population in disaster areas.

Translated by Nguyen Hai Long