This is a tragic summer.
A ferocious flood swept the homes of the people in Jilin. Rows of houses collapsed; stands of trees and crops were uprooted; hundreds of people had to move in tears ... ...
This is an unforgettable summer.
After flood came, Party members and cadres yelled them hoarse while cracking basins to urge transfer from house to house urging transfer; when people were trapped in island, helicopters, assault boats, and people carrying by back and shoulder, entered by force, to send water and food ... ...
This is an indomitable summer.
Bright "orange" flashed in heavy rain; and "camouflage" covered with mud rushed on dams. While army flags and party flags were fluttering, soldiers and Party members blocked up burst dams and safeguarded Nong an, Songyuan, and Songhua River ... ...
In late July 2010, rare large floods hit 49 counties and cities in Jilin Province; more than 300,000 houses collapsed, over 70 people died, more than 70 people were missing, and a number of cities and villages turned out to be a vast expanse of water.
In face of danger, there was a force in support; at critical moment, there was a belief and a kind of spirit in the ebullition. 27 million people in Jilin straightened unyielding backbone in the rare flood.
Undertake Responsibility.
It kept raining, heavier and heavier. Mountain torrents with wood and mud caused by heavy rain raved from the mountain, breaking the tranquility of the black land.
From the evening of July 27 to July 28, Jilin suffered heavy rainfall whose intensity made a record high. The monitoring result at Chaoyang station in Yongji County: 164 mm of super heavy rain within 2 hours; 335 mm of rain in 3 days.
Heavy rain caused floods. Kouqian Town, Yongji County was totally flooded; some villages in Huadian City disappeared in the floods; and Wanbao Town in Antu County became an "isolated island" ... ...
There are three 'unprecedented' characters in these floods in Jilin Province. Jilin Provincial Governor Wang Rulin said that the high storm s intensity, long duration, and repeated placement were unprecedented; violence, high magnitude, and coexistence of inland inundation and external flood in some towns were unprecedented; simultaneous outbreak in upstream and downstream of Fengman reservoir and the outbreak of the largest basin-wide flood in No. 2 Songhua were unprecedented.
Yinma River reported an emergency; Wende River reported an emergency; and the entire No. 2 Songhua River reported an emergency... ...
Baishan Reservoir reported an emergency; Fengman Reservoir reported an emergency; and Shitoukoumen Reservoir reported an emergency... ...
Changchun reported an emergency; Jilin reported an emergency; Yanbian reported an emergency; Baishan reported an emergency; and Tonghua reported an emergency
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council was extremely concerned about flood control. General Secretary Hu Jintao and a number of other central leaders respectively gave important instructions. From August 3 to August 4, Premier Wen Jiabao went to Jilin in person to guide flood control, inspected the flood in Songhua River Basin, and went to seriously hit Yongji County. He called on leaders at all levels and cadres to carry forward the spirit of no fear of fatigue and continuous fighting, give unified command, make scientific deployment, be united, and strive to win the fight against flood and the fight of disaster relief.
In front of disaster, people's lives are above all else.
Jilin provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government immediately launched II-level flood control emergency response, to treat the flood as the current overwhelming task.
On July 30, the provincial committee of the CPC party committee held an emergency meeting of leading cadres at provincial level. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC pointed out that since the flood control had transferred from partial combat in the eastern part and central or southern part to partial combat in the eastern part and central or southern part and defense combat in the entire basin of Ersong, the provincial committee of the CPC decided to implement the responsibility system in which leaders and cadres at the provincial level were responsible for city (state) and key counties (cities and districts); leaders at the provincial level all devoted themselves into the flood-fighting disaster relief; local governments and departments at all levels also implemented various kinds of flood control responsibility system dominated by responsibility system of administrative head. "At critical moment, leaders and cadres should go to the front line and be together with the people."
After the meeting, more than 30 responsible leaders at the provincial level immediately went to the "front lines" to give on-site command. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC, and Provincial Governor Wang Rulin went to dams and rivers for inspection for many times and went to villages, streets, schools, etc. to inspect flood and disaster, whole other leaders at the provincial level all went to the first line to guide flood-fighting disaster relief.
Cadres at all levels across the province, the broad masses and the People's Liberation Army, armed police, militia reserve officers and soldiers, and police officers stationed in Jilin swiftly took action for flood-fighting disaster relief. Cadres on business travels immediately returned, and soldiers taking injections pulled out of needles... ...
The wisdom of scientific response
Nine large reservoirs exceeded the flood control limited level; Fengman Reservoir implemented flood discharge continuously; huge flood burst in the entire basin of Songhua River; and 28 village trapped by floods became "isolated islands" ... ...
At critical moment, leaders of Jilin Province made the decisive decision and scientific response.
In the Jilin Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, phones rang for 24 hours one after another and busy people were everywhere. Officials firmly stared at the cloud map on the big screen. Every subtle change attracted their attentions.
Groups of weather experts and water conservancy experts were invited there. Main leaders of provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government had conferences with them every day, to listen to their views, and then form specific implementation plans. One after another emergent orders were issued from here.
76 water conservancy experts were sent to the front line, to give on-site guidance and fully organize flood control at dangerous rivers and reservoirs.
In treacherous Yinma River, Yintong River, and other key river dikes and sections, responsibilities were clarified level by level, for strict flood control. In these dangerous sections, a total of 16,000 people were mobilized. They reinforced 76 km of embankment and blocked up 32 km of 88 burst dikes, after working hard for three days.
On July 28, dangerous situation appeared in Nianzigou Reservoir on Aolong River (a branch of No. 2 Songhua River), with overtopping flood. The highest water level exceeded top of the dam for half a meter. The flood formed a dozen of deep groove in the dam slope. More than 20 million cubic meters of flood was likely to pour at any time and the dam was at stake.
At times of emergency, Jilin Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, after consultation with experts, decided to release flood by blasting excavation of "abnormal spillway", rapidly transported explosives, successfully implemented explosion, and discharged flood, saving lives of more than 40,000 people in the downstream.
"We should give top priority to the safety of people s lives." Due to the danger that may occur at any time, the largest ever transfer in Jilin Province was implemented rapidly.
Rare floods in history hit Antu County, leaving 70,000 disaster-stricken people. But 10 minutes before the disaster, warning was successfully given to highly dangerous areas and people were quickly organized to move to safe areas.
It s difficult for people to leave their homeland. Gao Xuexi from Liang Jiang Town, Antu County, in his seventies was not willing to go no matter what others say. Village cadres were rejected for several times. Responsible Working Group patiently talked with him and had to transfer him in force in urgent situation. Not long after he was moved, turbid waves towered behind. "Cadres saved my life", then he understood the determination of cadres.
On August 4, another round of heavy rains brought about new flood peak and superimposed danger. "At key moment, you have to move the people out no matter in what way . Thanks to strict organization and orderly evacuation, Jilin Province realized transfer of more than 1.5 million people within a dozen or so days, from July 20 to July 22 when Jilin Dongliao firstly encountered heavy rain.
While fighting against flood, Jilin Province had another combat.
July 28, affected by serious floods, more than 7,000 barrels of raw materials of two chemical companies in Yongji County were rushed into the Songhua River. Materials in some buckets were trimethyl chlorosilane and hexamethyl disilazane, making people be concerned about pollution in Songhua River. A wave of panic buying of mineral water appeared in supermarkets in Jilin City. A bottle of mineral water worthy of 1 yuan was sold at 18 yuan to the highest.
Faced with this unexpected event, Sun Zhengcai, secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC said that: "The event should be publicized at the first time. Scientific reason should be made clear at the first time. And monitoring results should be announced at the first time."
Along the Songhua River, 8 defense lines were built up rapidly; intercept fishing was conducted with pontoons, assault boats, and dredging vessels; each defense line were equipped with 1,500 troops officers and soldiers, local cadres, masses, and technical experts.
In Jilin, Changchun, Songyuan, etc., environmental protection departments set up 14 monitoring sections, to carry out rigorous systematic monitoring. Many monitoring points took a water sample half an hour to implement continuous follow-up monitoring of the river water.
According to statistics of Jilin Province, currently 7,107 barrels of chemical raw materials were salvaged and basically blocked in the Jilin Province.
On July 31, 12 goldmining vessels in Huadian City were flooded into No. 2 Songhua River, threatening the safety of the Fengman dam. After consultation with experts, leaders of Jilin Province determined to take three measures to intercept: set obstacles, tow away, and cut, and then quickly resolving a crisis.
Science, calmness, openness and transparency minimized the loss of the disaster.
Strengthening Strong Backbone
Stormy rivers called forth the heroes. In danger, 28,000 PLA soldiers, police officers, fire fighting officers and soldiers, police officers, as well as numerous Party members and cadres came forward and became the backbone of the fight against floods, disregarding their own personal safety and risking his own lives.
On August 1, the 83rd Anniversary of the Army, memorial meeting of two general PLA soldiers was held in the Yongji County Funeral.
They were called Li Shouxin and Liu Lei. On July 29, having participated in three consecutive abrupt rescue missions, they firmly applied for assignment after they heard that there was another task. When they were rescuing trapped people at the river on Yongji County, the assault boat rolled over, they unfortunately fell into the water, and died a sacrificial death.
As Li Shouxin and Liu Lei, there was a PLA officer who was deeply recalled by the people. He was Guan Xizhi, chief of staff of a Group Military Corps in Shenyang Military Region, who sacrificed his life, in order to protect the arms and weapons in the flood.
On July 30, Guan Xizhi was carrying out the task of salvaging chemicals barrel in Hada Mountain Reservoir under order. Suddenly the flood rose, the pontoon was out of control and rushed to the gate at great speed. In emergency situation, Guan Xizhi yelled "jump!" The officers and soldiers on the pontoon quickly jumped into the river. At the critical juncture when the turbulent flow pushed officers and soldiers to the gate, Guan Xizhi pushed comrades besides him out of water from time to time. Finally, the four comrades were rescued and Guan Xizhi sacrificed his life.
Jilin provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government awarded Guan Xizhi, Li Shouxin, and Liu Lei (the three PLA soldiers) honorary titles of Warrior of Flood-fighting Disaster Relief", called on soldiers and civilians across the province to take their examples, to firmly stick to duties, tenaciously struggle, dare not to sacrifice, be brave in sacrificing, and strive to win the fight against flood.
Party members and cadres in Jilin took urgent actions to engage in the battle against floods.
Liu Xiaoli, head of Yongji County Public Security Bureau, was always the first to board the assault boats though he cannot swim. After assault boats were overturned by roaring flood, he continued to board assault vessels to search for trapped people; to open up the rescue channel, he stood alone on the surface of a bridge which would be washed away at any time for 4 hours, directing forklifts to clear roadblocks, and eventually rescued 13 people trapped in the roof.
9,345 village Party organizations and village committees which were just elected at the end of July had stood the test of the flood. People reported that the newly elected village cadres dared to rush, were good at doing thinks, and had appeal, showing the significant role as "backbone" of the people.
In roaring flood, Party branches were strong fortress, while Party members were banners.
Guo Riguang, Party secretary of Xinxing Village, Wanbao Town, Antu County, evacuated villagers from door to door. After others evacuated, his house just had roof. Sheng Zhongliang, secretary and director of Hongshi Village, Dashiren Town, Baishan City went to the front line to guide flood control with two crutches until elimination of danger, before his broken leg recovered. When people transferred from Shiji Village, Xinhe Town, Antu County were almost out of food, village secretary and director Ma Dexin swam across torrent floods with an automobile inner tube, and determined exact food-airdropping coordinate for helicopters.
On the morning of July 28, Erdao Village, Qianerdao Town, Fengman District, Jilin City near Wulihe, suddenly had flood, village committee director Li Xinghuan shouted villagers to evacuate immediately. Seeing that the flood would swallow the whole village, Li Xinghuan who was relocated to a safe place found that more than 300 villagers were in a 2-floor building. Peak hit and the building was at risk.
"Party members follow me , Li Xinghuan quickly formed a villager rescue group dominated by Party members. Party member Zhang Baicheng and several villagers paddled close to the building in wooden boat. Once, twice, three times ... ... the wooden boat was pushed back by the surging flood again and again and could not get close. Flood rose higher and higher, overflowing windows at the second floor. At the critical moment, Li Xinghuan tied a rope to him and jumped into the water, struggled to swim to the front of the building, tied the rope to the utility poles, put up a life rope bridge, and saved trapped villagers.
Power of Transferring Warmth
Raging flood and jittered screen, a man fishing for people with a long pole in the water - 25-year-old Lu Xu is the hero of "the most gripping and the warmest video on the internet. He is a real estate company's employee. He dodged the flood in the third floor, when the huge flood submerging Yongji County came.
Watching a person washed away by the flood drift in front of him, he and his companions made a long pole with measuring rulers to save people, while bending over the window.
They successfully rescued a man with the long pole, but also watched a father and son being swept away. Lu Xu could not forget the old person who caught the long pole and finally let it go. The old person looked back at him, smiling, when he was washed away. Lu Xu shut himself in the house crying, "I looked at them but could not save them, it feels so bad."
Being famous suddenly, Lu Xu was not used to it: "Everyone will save them. Some saved more people, but they were just not filmed."
Indeed, they were just ordinary farmers, employees, and businessmen. Before floods came, they peaceably lived in Jilin, the land with timely wind and rain. However, when the catastrophe approached, they, who had escaped, put themselves in danger again, to save people trapped in floods one after another, with their love, wisdom, courage and even lives. Their ordinary actions and sincere emotion radiated the glory of human nature.
"If not for saving people, nothing would happen to him, lying home", villagers of No. 3 Community, Guanma Village, Kouqian Town, Yongji County, Jilin City, could not help sobbing, when talking about Yu Hongjiang.
On the morning of July 28, Guanma Village, Kouqian Town, Yongji County, Jilin City was flooded. Yu Hongjiang s house was in the vicinity of the highway which was comparatively higher. After he heard that more than 100 villagers were still trapped, Yu Hongjiang said nothing and drove his tractor to rescue people.
Chimney of his tractor faced towards the sky and was not easy to be watered. A coal tub was temporarily installed at the back and could carry more than 10 persons each time.
Yu Hongjiang carried 8 tractors of people (more than 120 people). When he was carrying the 9th tractor of people, rampant flood rushed to the village and overturned the tractor. 4 persons escaped and 10 people were killed including Yu Hongjiang.
His wife, Tang Shuhua, regretted "I failed to stop him." However, Tang Shuhua was well aware of Yu Hongjiang s character. No one could stop him. "He will choose to save people, if he was offered to make choice again."
Yu Hongjiang sacrificed his own life but saved more than 120 lives; Lu Xu fished people with homemade long pole in the water; Jiang Jinzhong drove his own forklift to fasten the dick and fight against flood ... ... in floods, many "civilian heroes" emerged in Jilin.
A widowed elder sister from Nuanmu Village, Huadian City ran a small supermarket for three children s study. When the flood came, her small supermarket was no flooded luckily. When villagers fleeing for their lives returned to the village in succession, he gave the key to the supermarket to the village director, and said "Come to my home for anything in need, and I won t charge a penny." Villagers gradually took daily necessities in urgent need worthy of 10,000 yuan. Some people worried that how could she manage to send her children to school. She said, See where this goes. Now I am better than others, right?"
A Deputy Minister of Huadian Municipal Organization Department wrote in his flood-fighting disaster relief work notes: what the Elder Sister gave to the village director was not an ordinary key, but a valuable key. In front of sudden disaster, they warmed and supported each other with goodness and love.
Kindle the Hope of Rebirth
On August 6, Xijiang Village, Liangjiang Town, Antu County, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, the first village rebuilt after disaster in Jilin Province was started officially in another place. 9 days ago, 2,256 people watched the surging floods destroy their homes. The village was almost razed to the ground.
The reconstruction plan of Xijiang Village shows that new houses are to be built at the highest point, in sharp contrast to the low-lying old villages. Energy-saving structure, with energy saving, thermal insulation, fire fighting and other advantages will be adopted for new houses.
After the floods, more than 80,000 households of collapsed houses need to be rebuilt in Jilin Province. And nearly 200,000 houses damaged by disaster need to be rebuilt and maintained. For Jilin with shorter construction period since it enters the winter time earlier, it will be a formidable task and challenge to complete the reconstruction of these houses before advent of cold weather at the end of October.
Jilin provincial government demanded for doing a good job in flood control on one hand and immediately launching post-disaster reconstruction on the other hand, to make disaster-stricken people have houses to live in before the winter.
Jilin provincial government held a meeting that very night and issued 15 files to mobilize the cadres and masses to carry out self-help disaster relief.
On August 5, Jilin provincial government issued the Opinion on Taking Initiative to Make Appropriate Arrangements on Basic Living for Disaster-stricken People which proposed that reconstruction of collapsed houses of urban and rural disaster-stricken people shall be included into the transformation plan according to relevant local policies on transformation of shantytowns or mud thatched cottages, and that 20,000 yuan per household of subsidy shall be granted in a one-time manner to help disaster-stricken people rebuild their homes.
In the temporary settlement place at No. 35 Middle School of Kouqian Town, Yongji County, reporters saw that medical services stations were established to offer medical treatments for the masses, dormitory area was clean, food supply in the canteen was adequate, and eat in one meal was available in every other day. More than 1,000 people were resettled here. More than 400 settlements stations like this were established in Jilin Province. Food and drinking water worthy of no less than 20 yuan per person per day were offered to collectively replaced disaster-stricken people.
Flood relentlessly destroyed 4 water lines in mountain town Tonghua. 330,000 people had no water to drink. And it will take at least one month to repair the project normally.
Local Party committees and governments quickly had a campaign of water supply. While racing against time to set up temporary water supply pipelines, they tried their best to organize transport of bottled water. After day and night fighting for nearly 100 hours, clear water finally flew to the people s homes. When Tonghua City Mayor Tian Yulin pressed the button of water, many people shed tears.
Damaged power facilities were repaired, roads washed away were connected, and collapsed telecommunications equipment was installed. No matter where the flood retreated, maintenance staff appeared.
Tap water came, lights were bright, roads were connected, and mobile phones had signals. Sun shines casted into the hearts of the people of disaster-stricken areas.
"We did not cry for such big flood. Because we believe that the Government will not let us starve." Yan Xingquan, a villager of Hongxin Village, Hongtuya Town, Hunhong District, Baishan City said like this while searching for something which could still be used from the sludge.
On August 3, reporter saw that, on the road to Erdaodianzi Town, Huadian, a few farmers were farming with their walking tractors on a desolate land. I would like to clear the land and plant whatever I can. Smoke from kitchen chimneys rose again in Erdaodianzi Town, the severely damaged town. Someone was cooking and someone were repairing fence wrecked by flood. A couple pushed only a few living goods left with bicycles to return to their home. Child in the basket of bicycle slept quietly.
Old people said that, after the flood, some seeds buried in the soil were still able to germinate and grow.
Unyielding Jilin people will definitely be able to rebuild their beautiful homes.
A ferocious flood swept the homes of the people in Jilin. Rows of houses collapsed; stands of trees and crops were uprooted; hundreds of people had to move in tears ... ...
This is an unforgettable summer.
After flood came, Party members and cadres yelled them hoarse while cracking basins to urge transfer from house to house urging transfer; when people were trapped in island, helicopters, assault boats, and people carrying by back and shoulder, entered by force, to send water and food ... ...
This is an indomitable summer.
Bright "orange" flashed in heavy rain; and "camouflage" covered with mud rushed on dams. While army flags and party flags were fluttering, soldiers and Party members blocked up burst dams and safeguarded Nong an, Songyuan, and Songhua River ... ...
In late July 2010, rare large floods hit 49 counties and cities in Jilin Province; more than 300,000 houses collapsed, over 70 people died, more than 70 people were missing, and a number of cities and villages turned out to be a vast expanse of water.
In face of danger, there was a force in support; at critical moment, there was a belief and a kind of spirit in the ebullition. 27 million people in Jilin straightened unyielding backbone in the rare flood.
Undertake Responsibility.
It kept raining, heavier and heavier. Mountain torrents with wood and mud caused by heavy rain raved from the mountain, breaking the tranquility of the black land.
From the evening of July 27 to July 28, Jilin suffered heavy rainfall whose intensity made a record high. The monitoring result at Chaoyang station in Yongji County: 164 mm of super heavy rain within 2 hours; 335 mm of rain in 3 days.
Heavy rain caused floods. Kouqian Town, Yongji County was totally flooded; some villages in Huadian City disappeared in the floods; and Wanbao Town in Antu County became an "isolated island" ... ...
There are three 'unprecedented' characters in these floods in Jilin Province. Jilin Provincial Governor Wang Rulin said that the high storm s intensity, long duration, and repeated placement were unprecedented; violence, high magnitude, and coexistence of inland inundation and external flood in some towns were unprecedented; simultaneous outbreak in upstream and downstream of Fengman reservoir and the outbreak of the largest basin-wide flood in No. 2 Songhua were unprecedented.
Yinma River reported an emergency; Wende River reported an emergency; and the entire No. 2 Songhua River reported an emergency... ...
Baishan Reservoir reported an emergency; Fengman Reservoir reported an emergency; and Shitoukoumen Reservoir reported an emergency... ...
Changchun reported an emergency; Jilin reported an emergency; Yanbian reported an emergency; Baishan reported an emergency; and Tonghua reported an emergency
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council was extremely concerned about flood control. General Secretary Hu Jintao and a number of other central leaders respectively gave important instructions. From August 3 to August 4, Premier Wen Jiabao went to Jilin in person to guide flood control, inspected the flood in Songhua River Basin, and went to seriously hit Yongji County. He called on leaders at all levels and cadres to carry forward the spirit of no fear of fatigue and continuous fighting, give unified command, make scientific deployment, be united, and strive to win the fight against flood and the fight of disaster relief.
In front of disaster, people's lives are above all else.
Jilin provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government immediately launched II-level flood control emergency response, to treat the flood as the current overwhelming task.
On July 30, the provincial committee of the CPC party committee held an emergency meeting of leading cadres at provincial level. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC pointed out that since the flood control had transferred from partial combat in the eastern part and central or southern part to partial combat in the eastern part and central or southern part and defense combat in the entire basin of Ersong, the provincial committee of the CPC decided to implement the responsibility system in which leaders and cadres at the provincial level were responsible for city (state) and key counties (cities and districts); leaders at the provincial level all devoted themselves into the flood-fighting disaster relief; local governments and departments at all levels also implemented various kinds of flood control responsibility system dominated by responsibility system of administrative head. "At critical moment, leaders and cadres should go to the front line and be together with the people."
After the meeting, more than 30 responsible leaders at the provincial level immediately went to the "front lines" to give on-site command. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC, and Provincial Governor Wang Rulin went to dams and rivers for inspection for many times and went to villages, streets, schools, etc. to inspect flood and disaster, whole other leaders at the provincial level all went to the first line to guide flood-fighting disaster relief.
Cadres at all levels across the province, the broad masses and the People's Liberation Army, armed police, militia reserve officers and soldiers, and police officers stationed in Jilin swiftly took action for flood-fighting disaster relief. Cadres on business travels immediately returned, and soldiers taking injections pulled out of needles... ...
The wisdom of scientific response
Nine large reservoirs exceeded the flood control limited level; Fengman Reservoir implemented flood discharge continuously; huge flood burst in the entire basin of Songhua River; and 28 village trapped by floods became "isolated islands" ... ...
At critical moment, leaders of Jilin Province made the decisive decision and scientific response.
In the Jilin Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, phones rang for 24 hours one after another and busy people were everywhere. Officials firmly stared at the cloud map on the big screen. Every subtle change attracted their attentions.
Groups of weather experts and water conservancy experts were invited there. Main leaders of provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government had conferences with them every day, to listen to their views, and then form specific implementation plans. One after another emergent orders were issued from here.
76 water conservancy experts were sent to the front line, to give on-site guidance and fully organize flood control at dangerous rivers and reservoirs.
In treacherous Yinma River, Yintong River, and other key river dikes and sections, responsibilities were clarified level by level, for strict flood control. In these dangerous sections, a total of 16,000 people were mobilized. They reinforced 76 km of embankment and blocked up 32 km of 88 burst dikes, after working hard for three days.
On July 28, dangerous situation appeared in Nianzigou Reservoir on Aolong River (a branch of No. 2 Songhua River), with overtopping flood. The highest water level exceeded top of the dam for half a meter. The flood formed a dozen of deep groove in the dam slope. More than 20 million cubic meters of flood was likely to pour at any time and the dam was at stake.
At times of emergency, Jilin Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, after consultation with experts, decided to release flood by blasting excavation of "abnormal spillway", rapidly transported explosives, successfully implemented explosion, and discharged flood, saving lives of more than 40,000 people in the downstream.
"We should give top priority to the safety of people s lives." Due to the danger that may occur at any time, the largest ever transfer in Jilin Province was implemented rapidly.
Rare floods in history hit Antu County, leaving 70,000 disaster-stricken people. But 10 minutes before the disaster, warning was successfully given to highly dangerous areas and people were quickly organized to move to safe areas.
It s difficult for people to leave their homeland. Gao Xuexi from Liang Jiang Town, Antu County, in his seventies was not willing to go no matter what others say. Village cadres were rejected for several times. Responsible Working Group patiently talked with him and had to transfer him in force in urgent situation. Not long after he was moved, turbid waves towered behind. "Cadres saved my life", then he understood the determination of cadres.
On August 4, another round of heavy rains brought about new flood peak and superimposed danger. "At key moment, you have to move the people out no matter in what way . Thanks to strict organization and orderly evacuation, Jilin Province realized transfer of more than 1.5 million people within a dozen or so days, from July 20 to July 22 when Jilin Dongliao firstly encountered heavy rain.
While fighting against flood, Jilin Province had another combat.
July 28, affected by serious floods, more than 7,000 barrels of raw materials of two chemical companies in Yongji County were rushed into the Songhua River. Materials in some buckets were trimethyl chlorosilane and hexamethyl disilazane, making people be concerned about pollution in Songhua River. A wave of panic buying of mineral water appeared in supermarkets in Jilin City. A bottle of mineral water worthy of 1 yuan was sold at 18 yuan to the highest.
Faced with this unexpected event, Sun Zhengcai, secretary of Jilin Provincial Committee of the CPC said that: "The event should be publicized at the first time. Scientific reason should be made clear at the first time. And monitoring results should be announced at the first time."
Along the Songhua River, 8 defense lines were built up rapidly; intercept fishing was conducted with pontoons, assault boats, and dredging vessels; each defense line were equipped with 1,500 troops officers and soldiers, local cadres, masses, and technical experts.
In Jilin, Changchun, Songyuan, etc., environmental protection departments set up 14 monitoring sections, to carry out rigorous systematic monitoring. Many monitoring points took a water sample half an hour to implement continuous follow-up monitoring of the river water.
According to statistics of Jilin Province, currently 7,107 barrels of chemical raw materials were salvaged and basically blocked in the Jilin Province.
On July 31, 12 goldmining vessels in Huadian City were flooded into No. 2 Songhua River, threatening the safety of the Fengman dam. After consultation with experts, leaders of Jilin Province determined to take three measures to intercept: set obstacles, tow away, and cut, and then quickly resolving a crisis.
Science, calmness, openness and transparency minimized the loss of the disaster.
Strengthening Strong Backbone
Stormy rivers called forth the heroes. In danger, 28,000 PLA soldiers, police officers, fire fighting officers and soldiers, police officers, as well as numerous Party members and cadres came forward and became the backbone of the fight against floods, disregarding their own personal safety and risking his own lives.
On August 1, the 83rd Anniversary of the Army, memorial meeting of two general PLA soldiers was held in the Yongji County Funeral.
They were called Li Shouxin and Liu Lei. On July 29, having participated in three consecutive abrupt rescue missions, they firmly applied for assignment after they heard that there was another task. When they were rescuing trapped people at the river on Yongji County, the assault boat rolled over, they unfortunately fell into the water, and died a sacrificial death.
As Li Shouxin and Liu Lei, there was a PLA officer who was deeply recalled by the people. He was Guan Xizhi, chief of staff of a Group Military Corps in Shenyang Military Region, who sacrificed his life, in order to protect the arms and weapons in the flood.
On July 30, Guan Xizhi was carrying out the task of salvaging chemicals barrel in Hada Mountain Reservoir under order. Suddenly the flood rose, the pontoon was out of control and rushed to the gate at great speed. In emergency situation, Guan Xizhi yelled "jump!" The officers and soldiers on the pontoon quickly jumped into the river. At the critical juncture when the turbulent flow pushed officers and soldiers to the gate, Guan Xizhi pushed comrades besides him out of water from time to time. Finally, the four comrades were rescued and Guan Xizhi sacrificed his life.
Jilin provincial committee of the CPC and provincial government awarded Guan Xizhi, Li Shouxin, and Liu Lei (the three PLA soldiers) honorary titles of Warrior of Flood-fighting Disaster Relief", called on soldiers and civilians across the province to take their examples, to firmly stick to duties, tenaciously struggle, dare not to sacrifice, be brave in sacrificing, and strive to win the fight against flood.
Party members and cadres in Jilin took urgent actions to engage in the battle against floods.
Liu Xiaoli, head of Yongji County Public Security Bureau, was always the first to board the assault boats though he cannot swim. After assault boats were overturned by roaring flood, he continued to board assault vessels to search for trapped people; to open up the rescue channel, he stood alone on the surface of a bridge which would be washed away at any time for 4 hours, directing forklifts to clear roadblocks, and eventually rescued 13 people trapped in the roof.
9,345 village Party organizations and village committees which were just elected at the end of July had stood the test of the flood. People reported that the newly elected village cadres dared to rush, were good at doing thinks, and had appeal, showing the significant role as "backbone" of the people.
In roaring flood, Party branches were strong fortress, while Party members were banners.
Guo Riguang, Party secretary of Xinxing Village, Wanbao Town, Antu County, evacuated villagers from door to door. After others evacuated, his house just had roof. Sheng Zhongliang, secretary and director of Hongshi Village, Dashiren Town, Baishan City went to the front line to guide flood control with two crutches until elimination of danger, before his broken leg recovered. When people transferred from Shiji Village, Xinhe Town, Antu County were almost out of food, village secretary and director Ma Dexin swam across torrent floods with an automobile inner tube, and determined exact food-airdropping coordinate for helicopters.
On the morning of July 28, Erdao Village, Qianerdao Town, Fengman District, Jilin City near Wulihe, suddenly had flood, village committee director Li Xinghuan shouted villagers to evacuate immediately. Seeing that the flood would swallow the whole village, Li Xinghuan who was relocated to a safe place found that more than 300 villagers were in a 2-floor building. Peak hit and the building was at risk.
"Party members follow me , Li Xinghuan quickly formed a villager rescue group dominated by Party members. Party member Zhang Baicheng and several villagers paddled close to the building in wooden boat. Once, twice, three times ... ... the wooden boat was pushed back by the surging flood again and again and could not get close. Flood rose higher and higher, overflowing windows at the second floor. At the critical moment, Li Xinghuan tied a rope to him and jumped into the water, struggled to swim to the front of the building, tied the rope to the utility poles, put up a life rope bridge, and saved trapped villagers.
Power of Transferring Warmth
Raging flood and jittered screen, a man fishing for people with a long pole in the water - 25-year-old Lu Xu is the hero of "the most gripping and the warmest video on the internet. He is a real estate company's employee. He dodged the flood in the third floor, when the huge flood submerging Yongji County came.
Watching a person washed away by the flood drift in front of him, he and his companions made a long pole with measuring rulers to save people, while bending over the window.
They successfully rescued a man with the long pole, but also watched a father and son being swept away. Lu Xu could not forget the old person who caught the long pole and finally let it go. The old person looked back at him, smiling, when he was washed away. Lu Xu shut himself in the house crying, "I looked at them but could not save them, it feels so bad."
Being famous suddenly, Lu Xu was not used to it: "Everyone will save them. Some saved more people, but they were just not filmed."
Indeed, they were just ordinary farmers, employees, and businessmen. Before floods came, they peaceably lived in Jilin, the land with timely wind and rain. However, when the catastrophe approached, they, who had escaped, put themselves in danger again, to save people trapped in floods one after another, with their love, wisdom, courage and even lives. Their ordinary actions and sincere emotion radiated the glory of human nature.
"If not for saving people, nothing would happen to him, lying home", villagers of No. 3 Community, Guanma Village, Kouqian Town, Yongji County, Jilin City, could not help sobbing, when talking about Yu Hongjiang.
On the morning of July 28, Guanma Village, Kouqian Town, Yongji County, Jilin City was flooded. Yu Hongjiang s house was in the vicinity of the highway which was comparatively higher. After he heard that more than 100 villagers were still trapped, Yu Hongjiang said nothing and drove his tractor to rescue people.
Chimney of his tractor faced towards the sky and was not easy to be watered. A coal tub was temporarily installed at the back and could carry more than 10 persons each time.
Yu Hongjiang carried 8 tractors of people (more than 120 people). When he was carrying the 9th tractor of people, rampant flood rushed to the village and overturned the tractor. 4 persons escaped and 10 people were killed including Yu Hongjiang.
His wife, Tang Shuhua, regretted "I failed to stop him." However, Tang Shuhua was well aware of Yu Hongjiang s character. No one could stop him. "He will choose to save people, if he was offered to make choice again."
Yu Hongjiang sacrificed his own life but saved more than 120 lives; Lu Xu fished people with homemade long pole in the water; Jiang Jinzhong drove his own forklift to fasten the dick and fight against flood ... ... in floods, many "civilian heroes" emerged in Jilin.
A widowed elder sister from Nuanmu Village, Huadian City ran a small supermarket for three children s study. When the flood came, her small supermarket was no flooded luckily. When villagers fleeing for their lives returned to the village in succession, he gave the key to the supermarket to the village director, and said "Come to my home for anything in need, and I won t charge a penny." Villagers gradually took daily necessities in urgent need worthy of 10,000 yuan. Some people worried that how could she manage to send her children to school. She said, See where this goes. Now I am better than others, right?"
A Deputy Minister of Huadian Municipal Organization Department wrote in his flood-fighting disaster relief work notes: what the Elder Sister gave to the village director was not an ordinary key, but a valuable key. In front of sudden disaster, they warmed and supported each other with goodness and love.
Kindle the Hope of Rebirth
On August 6, Xijiang Village, Liangjiang Town, Antu County, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, the first village rebuilt after disaster in Jilin Province was started officially in another place. 9 days ago, 2,256 people watched the surging floods destroy their homes. The village was almost razed to the ground.
The reconstruction plan of Xijiang Village shows that new houses are to be built at the highest point, in sharp contrast to the low-lying old villages. Energy-saving structure, with energy saving, thermal insulation, fire fighting and other advantages will be adopted for new houses.
After the floods, more than 80,000 households of collapsed houses need to be rebuilt in Jilin Province. And nearly 200,000 houses damaged by disaster need to be rebuilt and maintained. For Jilin with shorter construction period since it enters the winter time earlier, it will be a formidable task and challenge to complete the reconstruction of these houses before advent of cold weather at the end of October.
Jilin provincial government demanded for doing a good job in flood control on one hand and immediately launching post-disaster reconstruction on the other hand, to make disaster-stricken people have houses to live in before the winter.
Jilin provincial government held a meeting that very night and issued 15 files to mobilize the cadres and masses to carry out self-help disaster relief.
On August 5, Jilin provincial government issued the Opinion on Taking Initiative to Make Appropriate Arrangements on Basic Living for Disaster-stricken People which proposed that reconstruction of collapsed houses of urban and rural disaster-stricken people shall be included into the transformation plan according to relevant local policies on transformation of shantytowns or mud thatched cottages, and that 20,000 yuan per household of subsidy shall be granted in a one-time manner to help disaster-stricken people rebuild their homes.
In the temporary settlement place at No. 35 Middle School of Kouqian Town, Yongji County, reporters saw that medical services stations were established to offer medical treatments for the masses, dormitory area was clean, food supply in the canteen was adequate, and eat in one meal was available in every other day. More than 1,000 people were resettled here. More than 400 settlements stations like this were established in Jilin Province. Food and drinking water worthy of no less than 20 yuan per person per day were offered to collectively replaced disaster-stricken people.
Flood relentlessly destroyed 4 water lines in mountain town Tonghua. 330,000 people had no water to drink. And it will take at least one month to repair the project normally.
Local Party committees and governments quickly had a campaign of water supply. While racing against time to set up temporary water supply pipelines, they tried their best to organize transport of bottled water. After day and night fighting for nearly 100 hours, clear water finally flew to the people s homes. When Tonghua City Mayor Tian Yulin pressed the button of water, many people shed tears.
Damaged power facilities were repaired, roads washed away were connected, and collapsed telecommunications equipment was installed. No matter where the flood retreated, maintenance staff appeared.
Tap water came, lights were bright, roads were connected, and mobile phones had signals. Sun shines casted into the hearts of the people of disaster-stricken areas.
"We did not cry for such big flood. Because we believe that the Government will not let us starve." Yan Xingquan, a villager of Hongxin Village, Hongtuya Town, Hunhong District, Baishan City said like this while searching for something which could still be used from the sludge.
On August 3, reporter saw that, on the road to Erdaodianzi Town, Huadian, a few farmers were farming with their walking tractors on a desolate land. I would like to clear the land and plant whatever I can. Smoke from kitchen chimneys rose again in Erdaodianzi Town, the severely damaged town. Someone was cooking and someone were repairing fence wrecked by flood. A couple pushed only a few living goods left with bicycles to return to their home. Child in the basket of bicycle slept quietly.
Old people said that, after the flood, some seeds buried in the soil were still able to germinate and grow.
Unyielding Jilin people will definitely be able to rebuild their beautiful homes.
