Highlighting the Key Points of Prevention and Accurately Responding to Flood Situation (Deep Reading · Flood Season Attention) Floods | Rivers | Flood Situation
Core Reading
Various regions and departments are closely monitoring the flood control of small and medium-sized rivers, as well as the safe operation of small and medium-sized reservoirs. They are implementing detailed prevention and response measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.
Currently, China has officially entered the critical flood prevention period of "seven down and eight up", with many areas entering the main flood season. Since the beginning of the flood season, China has experienced 18 heavy rainfall processes, with 271 rivers in 21 provinces experiencing floods exceeding the warning level. The rainy areas are mainly concentrated in the central and northwestern parts of Northeast China, the eastern part of Northwest China, the southwestern part of North China, the western part of Huanghuai River, the eastern part of Jianghuai River, and the northwestern part of Hubei Province.
According to predictions, during the "seven down and eight up" period, there will be more extreme weather and climate events, with regional floods, droughts, and heatwaves being more severe. How to do a good job in disaster prevention such as floods in small and medium-sized rivers, accidents in small and medium-sized reservoirs, and urban waterlogging? How to make up for the shortcomings? The reporter conducted an interview.
Seize the early and seize the small to cope with floods in small and medium-sized rivers
Within 4 hours, rainwater converged from the slopes on all sides, causing a steep rise in the water level of Qijiang. In early July, the first flood of Qijiang in 2023 was formed. "The formation speed of floods in small and medium-sized rivers is fast, and the test is not small," said Du Na, director of the Hydrology and Drought Disaster Prevention Center in Qijiang District, Chongqing.
Forecasts and warnings run ahead, winning the initiative for flood prevention. "After receiving the meteorological forecast and flood risk warning in advance, we immediately transmitted the warning information to 70 villages. The responsible persons for monitoring and warning, as well as those responsible for relocation and resettlement, arrived at their posts in a timely manner to identify potential risks and prepare emergency supplies in advance." Du Na explained.
Chongqing has rugged mountains and developed water systems, with small and medium-sized rivers being the focus of flood control. This year, Chongqing has identified four responsible persons for flood prevention and control of 104 mountainous river channels, including the administrative heads of the people's government, responsible persons of the competent departments, responsible persons of township and village river chiefs, and responsible persons for inspection and management, to fully ensure flood control safety.
How to prevent floods in small and medium-sized rivers with multiple points and wide areas? "There are about 10000 small and medium-sized rivers in China, which have small areas, fast confluence, and strong suddenness of flood disasters. At the same time, low flood control standards, lack of forecasting and early warning systems, and many factors combine, making small and medium-sized rivers high-risk areas for flood disasters." Professor Zuo Qiting from the School of Water Resources and Transportation at Zhengzhou University introduced.
Take multiple measures to ensure flood control safety. Yao Wenguang, Director of the Water and Drought Disaster Prevention Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, introduced that before the flood, the water resources department conducted a comprehensive inspection of the flood control, embankment safety, and contingency plan preparation of the river, highlighting the identification of river related risks such as blockages and blockages of cross ditch roads, bridges and culverts, and debris accumulation in ditches. They urged various regions to improve their contingency plans and eliminate hidden dangers. During the flood season, we will adhere to rolling forecasting and early warning, improve the "call and respond" mechanism, and urge water conservancy departments at all levels to strengthen patrols and watch, preset rescue forces, materials, and equipment, to ensure that insurance situations can be detected, reported, and dealt with in a timely manner.
Various regions respond to the flood and implement various measures in detail. Hubei Province has improved the integrated pre response and direct frontline early warning "call response" mechanism to ensure that information reaches people. Jiangsu Province has completed the preparation of warning and response mechanisms for 9 important flood discharge channels, including the Three River Sluice and the Huai River inlet waterway, to ensure the safety of floods in small and medium-sized rivers.
"In the long run, it is necessary to coordinate emergency response and long-term planning." Zuo Qiting introduced that it is recommended to further strengthen the governance of small and medium-sized river systems, coordinate upstream and downstream, left and right banks, and main and tributaries, scientifically formulate plans, carry out systematic governance, promote embankment reinforcement, dredging and dredging, water system connectivity, hardening and beautification, and enhance the overall flood control capacity. Next, the Ministry of Water Resources and relevant regions will accelerate the pace of governance, prioritizing the implementation of governance in river sections with county-level or above cities, important towns, and relatively concentrated populations along the river.
Consolidate responsibility to ensure the safety of small and medium-sized reservoirs during flood season
At present, China has built over 98000 reservoirs of various types, ensuring the safe operation of reservoirs during flood season, which is of great responsibility.
There are 4 medium-sized reservoirs and 26 small reservoirs distributed in Wu'an City, Hebei Province, on the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains. The mountain is high and the slope is steep, the source is short and the current is rapid. Once encountering rainstorm, the water level of the reservoir rises and falls sharply. "Only by conducting thorough inspections can one have a clear understanding," said Huo Hongjun, a staff member of the Koushang Reservoir. "The reservoir is operating at a water level below the flood limit. We conduct comprehensive inspections of power tunnels, spillway tunnels, generator sets, warning equipment, and other key areas twice a day to ensure that everything is safe."
The three responsible persons for administration, technology, and inspection must all be in place, and a comprehensive investigation of key parts such as the reservoir spillway and drainage facilities, as well as the preparation of protective measures, must be carried out. In principle, all dangerous reservoirs should operate empty during the main flood season... A series of measures are taken to ensure the safe operation of the reservoir during the flood season. "The key to flood control in reservoirs lies in prevention. When responsibility is assigned to individuals, measures can be implemented." Yao Wenguang said that when reservoirs store and release floodwaters, all personnel in the flood threat area should be immediately transferred. In case of reservoir accidents, timely disposal should be carried out, and personnel within the affected area should be transferred in advance to ensure the safety of people's lives.
Adapt to local conditions and actively explore. Hubei Province requires that the responsible persons for dangerous reservoirs and high water level operating reservoirs stay on duty during heavy rainfall. Currently, the "Jingchu Reservoir" monitoring platform has conducted telephone spot checks on more than 7000 people and sent more than 18000 warning messages. Guizhou Province highlights the importance of 24-hour patrol duty for dangerous and under construction reservoirs, and requires that under construction reservoirs cannot operate without water storage acceptance.
Small reservoirs need to be extra vigilant during flood season. According to Zuo Qiting, there are approximately 94000 small reservoirs in China, accounting for over 95% of the total number of reservoirs. Small reservoirs have problems such as early construction, low standards, unclear ownership, and inadequate management. On the one hand, improving engineering measures, promoting the reinforcement of small reservoirs, and improving infrastructure. On the other hand, we should strengthen the construction of non engineering systems, strengthen forecasting, early warning, rehearsal, and contingency measures. If there is a danger, we should ensure that there are people in charge, who can handle the emergency and transfer it.
This year, the Ministry of Water Resources has orderly implemented the reinforcement of 128 large and medium-sized reservoirs, as well as 3500 small and dangerous reservoirs, and basically completed the construction of rainwater monitoring and reporting facilities for small reservoirs and dam safety monitoring facilities before the flood season.
Accurate implementation of policies to prevent urban waterlogging
On the late night of July 6th, Guangshui City in Hubei Province was hit by heavy rainfall, with multiple areas of the city experiencing waterlogging. Team gathering, identifying hidden dangers, and controlling traffic... As of now, Hubei has deployed 18000 emergency response forces and more than 2800 equipment and vehicles, effectively ensuring the safety of urban operations during heavy rainfall.
In recent years, various regions and departments have increased their efforts, and positive progress has been made in urban waterlogging control. However, there are also problems such as insufficient natural storage space and lagging construction of drainage facilities. "Especially with the acceleration of urbanization, infrastructure such as high-rise buildings, roads, and squares have significantly changed their underlying surfaces. Urban waterlogging occurs quickly, with high peak flows and increased difficulty in prevention," said Zuo Qiting.
Preventing urban waterlogging and identifying risk points are key. The Ministry of Water Resources requires that urban flood control be placed in the watershed flood control system, and that the "four preparations" work of forecasting, early warning, rehearsal, and contingency plan be carried out, and the "refusal, deviation, and discharge" measures be implemented. Hubei Province focuses on the maintenance and repair of 463 urban drainage pumping station facilities, with a focus on major urban roads and drainage pipes and canals in flood prone areas. 278 flood prone points have been promptly rectified; Jiangsu has completed the rectification of 255 urban areas prone to flooding.
Urban waterlogging not only needs to be prevented, but also needs to be treated. Zuo Qiting introduced that drainage, stagnation, seepage, and storage should be fully utilized. Arrange drainage pumping stations and other equipment, smooth the backbone drainage channels, and allow the accumulated water to be discharged, allowing the flood to flow away; Increase urban green space, build sponge cities, and allow rainwater to seep in; Protect urban wetlands, improve rainwater storage facilities, and provide a place for rainwater storage.
"Urban construction needs to find a way for floods." Zuo Qiting introduced that rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are natural storage and detention places for floods, and rivers are natural flood channels. The concept of green development is integrated throughout the entire process of urban planning and construction, and production, living, and ecological spaces are reasonably arranged, taking a high-quality development path that is connotation oriented, intensive, and green.
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