Chairing an online conference on coping with super storms on October 7, the Deputy PM particularly reminded provinces and cities nationwide to put in place plans to evacuate local residents in case strong storms approach.

Deputy PM Hai requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to update and make public research results on coastal regions’ vulnerability to storms and floods, possible damages of storms on infrastructure projects and residential houses.

The ministry is also required to enhance its capacity of forecasting storms and possible consequences.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is instructed to build a map on the level of floods in cities and provinces caused by rising water levels as a consequence of strong and super strong storms. The map will be transferred to ministries and local governments to serve the building of response plans.

At the same time, Deputy PM Hai stressed that communications activities to enhance public awareness about the risks of strong and super strong storms are one of the most important solutions to cope with the natural disaster.

The MoNRE reported that the coastal region can be divided into five areas subject to different levels of storm impacts depending on the storm season, the frequency of storms and the rainfall caused by storms. Among the five areas, the Quang Ninh-Thanh Hoa region in the north has been hit by super storms reaching Level 15.

According to the ministry, the coastal regions of Quang Ninh-Thanh Hoa, Nghe An-Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang-Binh Dinh face the risk of storms of Level 15 and 16, while the Phu Yen-Khanh Hoa region can be hit by storms at Level 14 and 15.

Participants at the meeting also heard reports on the implementation of construction regulations in storm-vulnerable areas and guidance on preparations to cope with strong and super strong storms.