Do not let people on the roofs be saved
Directing at the meeting, Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Pham Anh Tuan emphasized that storm No. 13 is a very strong storm, causing heavy rain and floods, with flood peaks forecast to exceed all levels that have occurred in the old Binh Dinh (now east of Gia Lai) if the storm intensity does not change.
Up to now, the center of the storm is expected to still be directed towards the province. Gia Lai officially activated the level 5 storm response scenario, corresponding to a wind level of 14 or higher, which is a super typhoon.
"Previously, when flood peaks occurred in a locality, people had to be urgently evacuated there. The entire Ba Hoa mountain (Quy Nhon Nam ward) and Hon Cha mountain (Quy Nhon Bac ward) are two extremely dangerous areas, water from the top of the mountain can pour down like a waterfall and sweep away people if they do not evacuate in time. If the leaders of units and localities are subjective and let people have problems, I will discipline them strictly," Mr. Tuan emphasized.
Mr. Tuan said that on the morning of November 5, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep will visit Gia Lai, establish a Forward Command Department in the province, which further shows that the province is very likely the eye of the storm.
The provincial chairman requested the entire political system to stop unnecessary work to fight the storm, prevent human losses, minimize property damage, and resolutely prevent people from having to be rescued on the roofs.
"Everyone must proactively prevent storms and resolutely enforce cases of subjective people who refuse to relocate. Because if there is a situation where people have to be rescued in the middle of a big flood, both the rescue forces and the people are very dangerous," Mr. Tuan emphasized.
The provincial chairman requested the police force to protect property, and localities must ensure safe shelters, adequate food, provisions, and medicine for people. The Provincial Border Guard urgently called on ships to come ashore, anchor and seek safe shelter.
"When the storm comes, do not let people leave their homes, except for forces on duty. The Department of Education and Training decides to let students in the whole province stay home from school, businesses let workers stay home from work...", Mr. Tuan directed.
Maintaining 2 fireworks display locations for storm warning
On the same day, the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command synchronously deployed measures to respond to storm No. 13, activated combat readiness 24/24 hours, established working groups to base on the situation, review areas at high risk of landslides, flooding, and isolation.
More than 4,000 officers and soldiers of military units, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Region in the area, along with 46 cars, 6 armored vehicles, 27 boats, 147 canvas houses, 4,364 life jackets and round buoys... are ready to mobilize when situations arise.
Colonel Nguyen The Vinh - Commander of the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command - said that the unit established 2 temporary command posts in the Hoai Nhon Nam and Dak Po areas, along with a regular command post at the Provincial Military Command, to be ready to handle all situations.
All forces maintain 100% duty, regularly stay in the area, coordinate with the government to mobilize people in areas at risk of landslides and deep flooding to evacuate to safety. Natural disaster prevention, control and overcoming is identified as a key political task, "mission to fight in peacetime".
The whole province currently has more than 5,700 fishing vessels. The Border Guard has called on 5,197 ships/36,379 fishermen to anchor in localities; 575 ships/4,025 fishermen still operating at sea are being contacted and notified to move out of the danger zone.
The two fireworks display locations on Nhon Chau and Nhon Ly islands are strictly maintained, sending signals at the right time, helping fishermen proactively take shelter safely.
