Knights of Coastal Village

Tan is a small village, lying along coastal areas in the northern province of Thanh Hoa. The village with a total population of 300 people struggles with six to seven tropical depressions and other four to five typhoons every year.

“The disasters threaten our property and our lives. They claim at least one to two lives a year. Our villagers had to leave their houses and were evacuated into the mainland many times years ago,” says Hai, leader of the village. “That’s why we were so frightened whenever a natural disaster was forecasted to hit our village. We were so afraid of the rage of the wind and rain gods.”

Now, natural disasters are not as fearful for Hai and other villagers as before. A rapid response team, which is called knights of their village, has been founded, making villagers confident to prepare for disasters.

“Our village was on pathway of a typhoon late last year but we didn’t suffer any material or human losses. The team asked our villagers to actively prepare for the disaster and practise four on-the-spot motto,” continues Hai, who works as a member of the team.

The rapid response team in Tan village is an initiative under the project "Central Areas of Thanh Hoa province Resilient to Natural Disasters” (CATREND). Implemented by World Vision, the CATREND project focuses on helping communities in coastal and estuary areas in Hoang Hoa and Quang Xuong districts to reduce vulnerability and adverse socio-economic impacts of natural disasters. It lasts from October 2011 till September 2014.
 
To date, a total of 63 rapid response teams have been established in the two districts. World Vision has assisted the teams in making their operation regulations, finalising their disaster risk reduction plan and provided them with first aid and rescue equipment. Members of the teams have been trained on climate change, disaster risk reduction, first aid techniques as well as supported to organise simulations at the field.

Rapid response teams worked with local authorities to evacuate villagers to a safe place at a simulation organised by World Vision.

“Our members have been trained on types of natural disasters, climate change and appropriate response. We have learnt about knowledge and skills in first aid and rescue. We have been equipped with essential equipment such as life jackets, lifebuoys, for our work. The assistance makes us feel more confident when preventing and responding to floods and storms in our village."

Having been equipped with the knowledge, the teams have provided similar training to their villagers and instructed local people how to make their family’s disaster risk reduction plan.

Up to 4,400 families out of a total 9,867 families in the two districts have been able to make such plan since the CATREND project was implemented more than one year ago.

"Each village or community used to finalise a disaster risk reduction plan. The plan was made in time when a typhoon was forecasted to hit our areas. The quick preparation made us puzzled when we responded to the disaster,” recalls Luong Van Hoanh, leader of a rapid response team in Hoang Hai community.

“Since this year, we have actively discussed and finalised the plans ahead of time. As a result, our members have been more proactive and confident in their work,” Hoanh adds.