Proactively respond to the 'double challenge' from natural disasters and epidemics

Disaster Management Policyand Technology Center

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12:29:7, 27/08/2021 The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has issued documents guiding localities to proactively review and prepare plans to respond to natural disasters in the context of the epidemic.

Equipment for construction of embankment against erosion of O Mon river through Thoi Lai district, Can Tho city

Currently, the COVID-19 epidemic is complicated, many localities are having to implement social distancing according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister. The whole country is focusing all resources on epidemic prevention and control.

Meanwhile, according to many years' law and practice, the period from now to the end of the year is the peak of storms, floods, inundation, flash floods, landslides... is to ensure smooth management and implementation of practical situations to minimize damage, and at the same time ensure safety for disease prevention and control.

It is essential for each citizen to equip themselves with useful knowledge and skills to actively respond to natural disasters, especially for people in mountainous, remote and mountainous areas. ethnic minority.

Directing drastically, ready for options

At present, natural disaster prevention and control will be more difficult, more stressful and more challenging in the context of complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic. Identifying risks and dual challenges, right from the beginning of 2020, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has issued documents guiding localities to proactively review and prepare plans to respond to natural disasters in the future. disease context.

To be ready for natural disaster prevention and control in 2021, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has issued Document No. 76/TWPCTT dated June 30, 2021 to the Chairman of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities. directing the implementation of the conclusions of the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Committee at the online conference on disaster prevention and search and rescue in 2021 and Document No. 60/TWPCTT dated 11/5/2021 to the Steering Committee of the Division natural disaster prevention and search and rescue in provinces and cities.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Chairman of the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, requested localities to proactively prepare scenario for this scenario.

Localities play a particularly important and decisive role in the organization of natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue; continue to maximize the motto "4 on the spot", respond promptly and effectively, especially developing response scenarios in the complicated situation of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Standing Office of the Steering Committee has organized nationwide online training conferences to the commune level to guide the development of plans and plans for natural disaster prevention and control in the context of COVID-19 with over 1,200 bridge points attended.

The General Department of Disaster Prevention and Control - Standing Office of the Steering Committee is urging localities to complete the plan to respond to natural disasters in epidemic conditions; 24 hours a day to be ready to advise the Government and the Prime Minister when major natural disasters occur.

In order to actively respond to the situation of "double disaster" of natural disasters and epidemics, the General Department of Disaster Prevention and Control has developed guiding documents for localities to develop plans and plans to respond to natural disasters, especially especially the document "Handbook for natural disaster prevention in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic."

The handbook integrates 5K messages in epidemic prevention and control of the Ministry of Health, combined with giving specific scenarios, plans and plans to respond to natural disasters, suitable to the characteristics of each region, region, thereby ensuring that all levels of government and people know the instructions and safety skills before natural disasters and epidemics.

In addition, the General Department also presides over and coordinates with relevant units to develop special communication materials and publications such as Infographic, television and radio productions, etc. to increase dissemination in localities. thereby, helping many people to easily access, contributing to strengthening the stronghold of natural disaster and epidemic prevention and control in the communities.

Safety skills

From the beginning of 2021 up to now, the whole country has experienced 53 light earthquakes, 105 hail storms, thunderstorms, 5 waves of cold air, winter winds, 11 heavy rains and local floods, of which 2 floods pipelines, flash floods and 21 riverbank landslides.

By the end of May 2021, natural disasters have caused 21 deaths, 29 injuries, over 4,300 houses collapsed or damaged; causing damage over 32,000 hectares of rice and crops; 6,583m road landslide; 15,945 m3 of soil, rock, concrete. Estimated value of economic damage is about 119 billion VND.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the remaining months of 2021 are likely to appear about 12-14 storms and tropical depressions operating in the East Sea, of which 5-7. direct impact on the mainland.

Floods on rivers in the North, North Central, and Central Highlands are common at alarm level 1-alarm 2 and above alarm 2. Rivers in Yen Bai, Ninh Binh, from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan at alarm level 2. -alarm 3, there is a river on alert 3. Floods upstream of the Mekong River are at an alarming level of 1-alarm 2. Major floods, flash floods and landslides on small rivers and streams, upstream areas of rivers; flooding in cities and urban areas.

The trend of climate change is fast and complicated, the risk of natural disasters is increasing and abnormal, causing increasingly serious damage to production, business and people's lives, posing a serious challenge to the environment. The need for more comprehensive attention should be paid to the need to prevent, respond to and overcome the consequences of natural disasters in the coming time, especially in the context of the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic in many localities.

In order to ensure safety in natural disaster prevention and control in the context of the epidemic, the Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of localities recommend that people regularly follow monitor the situation of natural disasters and epidemics in the area (notify about safe shelters, proactively declare health, isolate at home); Prepare necessary items in case of evacuation in case of a disaster (mask, food, sanitizer...).

The coast of Tam Quan Bac, Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh province was seriously eroded.

Before natural disasters, it is necessary to pay attention to disaster risk reduction and timely response preparation such as preparing a 4 on-the-spot response plan (including on-site commanders; on-site forces; on-site vehicles and materials) and logistics in place) combined with the implementation of 5K by the Ministry of Health (masks-disinfection-distance-don't gather-medical declaration) and strategy on COVID-19 vaccine.

In case of having to evacuate due to natural disaster, people need to save important phone numbers such as the number of the Commune People's Committee, local health and rescue to contact in case of urgent assistance.

To ensure safe evacuation, people follow the instructions of the authorities and those in charge. When evacuating in the context of natural disasters and the COVID-19 epidemic, people need to actively install the Bluezone application to update news and check the status of their contacts.

After arriving at the evacuation place, if people show signs of fever, cough, loss of taste, or fatigue, people should immediately notify the guide and manager and note not to share food, drink, or utensils with other people. strange, often have to wash hands with soap, or use alcohol sanitizer above 60 degrees. In particular, at the evacuation place, people avoid gathering with people outside their families.

In case people have been vaccinated, people still have to comply with the 5K regulations of the Ministry of Health, minimize touching common surfaces, only leave the evacuation place when allowed.

In particular, for families with young children, when evacuating, it is necessary to ensure that children are always accompanied by an adult, always keep children in sight, and avoid getting lost on the way to evacuate. Adults need to remind children to pay attention to traveling with their parents and family or need to know where their family is in case they are not together; Teach children to remember their parents' phone numbers and contact information to immediately notify the evacuation zone staff if they are lost or in an emergency.

Families remind children to absolutely not follow or talk to strangers at the evacuation area, always wear a mask for the child while moving and staying in the evacuation area... Parents need to listen and encourage when children want to share because when they evacuate, children easily feel insecure; pay attention to preventing accidents and injuries to children when natural disasters occur, especially drowning.

For the case of natural disasters but not having to evacuate, the local commanding committees for natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue should guide people to strengthen and support their houses, store important furniture and items. Move to a dry place, turn off all electrical sources in the house to avoid high flood water damage to furniture.

Natural disasters may happen without clean water, without electricity, each family needs to actively prepare drinking water enough for 5-7 days, store foods with long shelf life and do not need to be processed, flashlights, kerosene lamps for lighting, fully charged phone batteries and other necessary devices.

During the recovery period after natural disasters, people need to support people to stabilize their lives, clean the environment, and ensure clean water; continue to pay attention to tracing COVID-19 patients, learn from experience and perfect scenarios and plans.

According to Deputy General Director of the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Nguyen Van Tien, localities review and integrate COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control and disaster response plans accordingly, adjusting the evacuation of people in the direction of: in place, limiting concentrated evacuation; give priority to vaccination against epidemics for forces engaged in natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue and people in high-risk areas.

At the same time, localities need to raise public awareness through information, propaganda and dissemination of knowledge and skills to respond to natural disasters, with special attention being paid to remote and isolated areas. border, islands, ethnic minority areas.

In addition, the Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue in localities should have a clear assignment of tasks; list of teams and plans for replacement, additional personnel, list of vulnerable subjects, cases of F0, F1, F2, medical declaration and plans to move to evacuation zones, medical isolation areas ; layout diagram of evacuation area, isolation area, warehouse, works, list of mobilized means, training needs, training, training and rehearsal; additional material needs.

(Source: vietnamplus.vn)