According to meteorological agencies in the world, this year’s weather will not be the same as previous years.

Nguyen Huu Hai, an official from the National Central for Hydro-meteorology, says that this year will not have as many storms or as much rain. However, it is necessary to take precautions against strong storms and heavy rains, which can cause floods and landslides.

An early storm claimed two deaths in Bat Xat district, northern Lao Cai province. Prolonged rains over the past three days have flooded the Thong Nhat’s railway’s Muong Man section of southern Binh Thuan province. Some areas in the Central Highlands and south-central provinces have also been inundated.

Scientists forecast that there will be a spell of storms in early June and flash floods are likely to happen in mountainous provinces.

To effectively brace for storms and mitigate possible losses caused by natural disasters, it is imperative to provide timely forecasts with correct and up-to-date information about weather developments. Experience with flood and storm prevention and control in recent years has showed that Vietnam’s ability to make correct forecasts is low.

Losses during last year’s rainy season should be considered as life lessons for this year’s efforts to prevent and control floods and storms, particularly the leadership of relevant ministries and sectors. Those acting irresponsibly and cause the loss of lives and property will be severely punished according to the Prime Minister’s decision.

Measures to cope with floods and storms should be built on the characteristics of each locality. For instance, flood prevention in concrete house areas must be different from shelter areas, or inland flood prevention cannot be the same as off-shore flood prevention.

Special focus will also be paid to the post flood period as last year’s high number of deaths was caused by flash floods and landslides.

Flood and storm prevention and control must be specific and practical. All localities must be equipped with all the necessary facilities, information and rescue and standby projects, to brace for storms.

It is essential to examine plans to protect people’s lives in storm and flood-prone areas, coastal areas and those areas where flash floods and landslides many occur. In emergent situations, it is also necessary to evacuate people to safe areas. It is also important to help people know to protect their houses, especially shelters, during the flood and storm season.

The most urgent task is to inspect and upgrade coastal dyke systems and damaged reservoirs. At present, there are hundreds of kilometers of dykes that were destroyed by last year’s storms and floods and will fail to cope with storms of category 10 or above. Vietnam also has more than 850 reservoirs capable of containing a billion cubic meters of water that are seriously degraded and are unlikely to be able to cope with any sudden changes in water levels.

For sea storm prevention and control, weather forecast bulletins should provide more information on affected areas and the storms’ direction, so that fishermen can seek safe areas. Facilities to boost information and contact between mainland (border guard forces) and vessels (fishermen) should be boosted. News bulletins should guide fishermen and help them avoid storms. In case of emergencies, Vietnamese fishermen can avoid storms in the water territories of other countries. In addition, the diplomatic sector should cooperate with neighbouring countries to create favourable conditions for local fishermen to avoid storms in their water territories.

It is also necessary to tighten regulations for information dissemination between the steering board for flood and storm prevention and fishermen’s vessels at sea. When the storm occurs, border guard forces and local authorities must prevent fishermen from going to the sea. Furthermore, vessels should dock following technical instructions.

Functional bodies, people, officials and soldiers nationwide are to raise the alert, put warning systems in place and make plans to effectively cope with natural disasters so as to minimize human and property losses.