The drill was organized to equip local disaster management personnel and residents of the commune with knowledge and skills in disaster prevention and response. This includes integrating gender equality, the inclusion of vulnerable groups, and the prevention of gender-based violence—with a specific focus on the types of disasters that frequently occur in the area. The initiative also aims to enhance the participation of local residents, the community, and businesses in disaster prevention, emergency response, and search and rescue operations.

Speaking at the drill, Mr. Bui Quang Huy, Deputy Director of the Center for Disaster Prevention Policy and Techniques, stated that the exercise—which focused on the safe evacuation of residents during floods and landslides—incorporated gender equality, the prevention of gender-based violence, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups. He noted that the event seeks to raise awareness, strengthen responsibility, and improve the skills of local agencies, organizations, and residents. It embodies the core principles: "Act early and be proactive in the face of disasters to help minimize damage," and "Act early and respond promptly to ensure that no one is left behind."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le, Deputy Head of the Irrigation and Disaster Prevention Division under the Thai Nguyen Provincial Sub-Department of Irrigation and Disaster Prevention, explained that Thai Nguyen features diverse terrain, including many mountainous areas with fragmented landscapes, rivers, and streams—all of which are prone to flash floods and landslides during heavy rainfall. Experience has shown that when a disaster strikes, ensuring the safety of human lives must be the top priority. In particular, proactively identifying high-risk areas, developing evacuation plans, and organizing the relocation of residents to safe locations before a natural disaster strikes are among the essential measures to ensure the safety of human lives.

Given the increasingly complex nature of weather patterns and natural disasters driven by climate change, it is imperative to enhance the capacity for command, coordination, and operational management among various forces, as well as to proactively evacuate residents from high-risk areas. Such measures are essential to minimizing potential damage when natural disasters occur.

Mr. Ta Viet Hong, Chairman of the Than Sa Commune People’s Committee, urged all participating units to strictly carry out their assigned duties, adhere to established protocols, and ensure the absolute safety of both people and property. The exercise command committee was tasked with closely monitoring unfolding scenarios and responding with flexibility and efficiency to any emerging issues. Local residents were encouraged to cooperate fully, follow all instructions, and assist the authorities in the successful execution of their tasks.
The exercise consisted of three components:
- A command-and-control simulation for disaster response, conducted during a meeting of the commune’s Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue, and Civil Defense.
- A field drill simulating the evacuation of residents in response to flooding and landslide scenarios.
- A post-exercise review meeting to evaluate lessons learned.

Thanks to thorough preparation, both the command-and-control simulation and the field drill strictly followed the evacuation scenarios established by the organizing committee. The exercise adhered to all planned content, timelines, and procedural steps, meeting the set objectives while ensuring the safety of all personnel and equipment involved. The exercise successfully harnessed collective strength and effectively implemented the "four on-the-spot" principle (command; forces; facilities and supplies; and logistics). Furthermore, it served as an effective platform for raising awareness, fostering a sense of responsibility, and strengthening the proactive response capacity of local authorities, government bodies, departments, armed forces, and the general public regarding natural disaster prevention, control, and search and rescue operations. The drill involved over 60 residents from Kim Son hamlet; 40 personnel from the Than Sa Commune Civil Defense Steering Committee, the commune’s rapid-response team, and local armed forces; as well as guests including six hamlet heads, representatives from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Sub-Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and members of the press and media. 

Some images from the rehearsal: