Lakes and dams are safe thanks to applying disaster prevention technology

Despite the Covid-19 epidemic raging in the area in 2021, during this time, Binh Dinh authorities are urgently setting up an advisory council to assess the safety of dams in accordance with the Law on Water Resources and conduct a reality inspection at the structures.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phu, Chairman of Binh Dinh Irrigation Works Co., at present, the unit has completed the review and repair of equipment and machinery at key irrigation structures in the area such as: Dinh Binh lake (Vinh Thanh district), Thuan Ninh lake (Tay Son district), Van Hoi lake (Hoai An district), Hoi Son lake (Phu Cat district) and Van Phong dam (Tay Son district) to ensure their management and operation in the rainy season.

Binh Dinh has been investing deeply in disaster prevention and control of key irrigation structures in the area in recent years. With the support from the Central Government, international organizations and resources from the province, the application of science and technology onto natural disasters’ monitoring and warning in the locality is becoming more and more complete; hydrometeorological monitoring network is established in large river basins, lakes, and reservoirs; risk maps for each type of disaster are constructed in more detail, ensuring timely provision of advisory information to help the directing and administration of leaders at all levels.

"Along with the investment in technical infrastructure, the active application of information technology in disaster prevention and control has helped the functional sector switch from passive response to proactive prevention", said Mr. Phu.

According to Mr. Ho Dac Chuong, Deputy Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the act of natural disaster prevention and control, proactive prevention is considered effective and serves as an important factor determining the ability to limit disaster damages. Up until now, although it is only at a basic level, the early warning system has made a very positive contribution.

“In the disaster warning, 1 hour earlier the information given is 1 hour more precious. For example, a large flood upstream forms and flows downstream within a period of 3 hours, as soon as heavy rain is forecasted in the area from the Hydrometeorological Center, after gathering data, the authorities have already been able to come up with many different scenarios about the possibility of flood formation, then based on the regularly updated data on the system, they will issue early warnings to local authorities to operate accordingly. The residence can also have early access to information to proactively prevent and move to a safe place", Mr. Chuong shared.

With the support of science and technology, forecasts are increasingly reaching higher standards, and as result, warnings are also more accurate, leading to a much lower level of risk and damage than before.

However, in the act of disaster prevention, the key point is still the ability to coordinate between the government and relevant sectors, including the people. Natural disaster prevention and control are operating under the motto "4 on-spot", so early warning contributes to maximizing its effectiveness and helps localities develop disaster prevention, response and remedial scenarios early.

(Mr. Ho Dac Chuong, Deputy Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development)