Directive No. 08/NN-PCL-CT on flood prevention and avoidance work in 1996

DIRECTIVE

OF THE MINISTER OF

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

On flood prevention and control work in 1996

Our country lies within the tropical monsoon region and is the intersection point between two types of climates: marine tropical climate and continental climate, thus often causing heavy rainstorms lasting for several hours. For mountainous areas, small watersheds, slopes over 30 degrees, rocky terrain with many cracks, prone to landslides, vegetation coverage less than 10%, these rainstorms will cause sudden large floods, carrying a lot of soil and rocks, with great destructive power, causing significant losses in human lives, property, destroying residential areas, economic facilities, farmlands, crops, fruit trees, interrupting transportation and communication. This is known as flash flooding.

Preventing and controlling flash floods is a very difficult and long-term task that occurs every year when the rainy season begins. To proactively respond to natural disasters, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the People's Committees of provinces and Flood Control Command Boards in provinces with mountainous districts to undertake the following urgent tasks:

1. Each year, it is necessary to strengthen the local Flood Control Command Board structure, including those in key areas frequently affected by flash floods.

2. Strengthen the permanent staff of the Flood Control Command Board, including working equipment, to have sufficient capacity to advise the Flood Control Command Board on detecting, warning, and sounding alarms for flash floods (it is essential to have rainfall measurement stations in areas frequently hit by flash floods).

3. Strengthen the communication system, transmitting information down to grassroots levels, remote areas, including border guard forces and forest ranger stations in areas often affected by flash floods. Call upon international organizations to assist in equipping and training local flood control forces, as well as improving their ability to detect, forecast, warn, and sound alarms.

4. Plan residential areas and map out regions previously damaged by flash floods to relocate residents away from dangerous zones (below the flash flood edge) near the downstream of dams and water reservoirs, especially step-type reservoirs.

5. Stockpile food supplies, essential goods, and prepare transportation means (including manpower) in areas frequently blocked by flash floods.

6. Study the adjustment of planting seasons to avoid or mitigate the impact of flash floods, as well as arrange crop types and planting density to ensure harvest while preventing soil erosion and degradation.

7. Organize rescue forces for people and assets, and ensure transportation, preventing blockages as quickly and effectively as possible.

To implement the above regular tasks, local Flood Control Command Boards need to:

1. Regularly inspect upstream forest protection, periodically report to the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to seek leadership and guidance in land allocation, forest management, and protection.

2. At the beginning of the flood season, inspect the safety of dams and reservoirs on rivers and streams, particularly step-type reservoirs. For earth dams larger than 5 meters with a capacity exceeding one million cubic meters, additional emergency spillways should be added to prevent overflow during major floods.

3. Each locality annually needs to review and assess the strengths and weaknesses of its flood prevention efforts and establish measures to address consequences.

4. Equip a minimum communication system to serve flood prevention and control. Enhance information provision and exchange between localities and the central government, and among central ministries.

5. Develop mechanisms and policies to encourage upstream forest cultivation and protection, alongside establishing regulatory documents and laws on forest protection. Establish reward policies and penalties for deliberate violations.

6. Increase public awareness through communication about the harmful impacts of flash floods and guidelines for preventing, avoiding, and controlling them.

In the long term, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Environment, the National Science and Technology Center, and the General Administration of Meteorology and Hydrology to annually plan support for mountainous provinces to effectively prevent and control flash floods, quickly address consequences caused by flash floods, and ensure sustainable socio-economic development in mountainous areas.