Minh Chau is the only island commune of Hanoi, isolated between the Red River, Da River and Lo River junctions, about 60km from the city center. With the geographical characteristic of being surrounded by water, in the rainy and storm seasons, when the river water rises and flows fast, the commune often faces the risk of traffic disruption, landslides of key points and heavy damage to crops and people's property.
That reality makes disaster prevention and control a top priority. Experience from previous rainy and storm seasons has become the key for the government and people of Minh Chau to be proactive and ready to respond when natural disasters occur.
Ready to activate the "4 on-site" motto
Exchanging about the preparation for the 2026 rainy and storm season, Mr. Nguyen Dai Hai - Head of the Economic Department of Minh Chau commune said that the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune have soon consolidated the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, assigning specific tasks to each member. Detailed response plans have been developed to ensure the highest readiness right from the grassroots level.
In addition to reviewing infrastructure, the commune pays special attention to early warning work. Through the radio system, official fanpage and communication groups, weather and flood water level forecasts are always updated continuously to each household. Skills training sessions on reinforcing houses and moving assets are also organized regularly with many realistic simulated situations.
In emergency situations, the "4 on-the-spot" motto including on-the-spot command, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot means and materials, and on-the-spot logistics is considered the optimal solution. Because on-the-spot forces are the first to approach and handle situations before receiving support from superiors. "If we do not continuously update and be proactive, the river water may rise overnight, greatly affecting the lives and property of the people," Mr. Hai emphasized.
Contributing to this battlefield, the local armed forces always play a core role. Mr. Nguyen Van Huy, a commune self-defense militia soldier, said that the team is always ready to be on duty 24/24. In previous rainy and storm seasons, he and his comrades were always present in time at key points to support people in moving crops and reinforcing dykes with the spirit of putting people's safety first.
Strength from the consensus of the people
No longer having the mentality of "waiting for floods to come before running", people in Minh Chau commune have known how to combine folk experience with official information sources to react more quickly.
Mr. Nguyen Tai Dai, a long-time resident of Minh Chau, shared that he used to mainly look at the sky and water to predict the weather. Now, accessing information has become much easier through telephones and loudspeakers. Timely support from the government helps people feel more secure and have enough time to prepare the best response plan.
It can be seen that the drastic involvement of the political system and core forces has formed a network of safe and tight control. All tasks from patrols and management to maintaining combat duty forces at key points are carried out seriously, with the highest goal of protecting the lives and property of the people.
Currently, the plan and disaster prevention force in Minh Chau commune have been ensured and ready to respond. Thanks to the coordination between experience and close management from the government, the island commune's soldiers and people have been able to control the situation, no longer falling into a passive position before the unusual developments of this year's rainy and storm season.
