Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1068 - 696: Wang Junjun’s Ideals (2)

As soon as Secretary Ye finished speaking, Director Ren sighed lightly, "If this happened at our Linghai, I don't know how many casualties would occur!"

Old Ge nodded and said in a low voice, "That's why having preparedness and taking precautions make all the difference compared to not being prepared or taking any measures."

Secretary Ye couldn't help but recall the publicity work during the Binjiang earthquake prevention campaign over a decade ago. At that time, the information on how to respond to earthquake disasters and how to self-rescue after an earthquake was made known to everyone. He decided he would also undertake a campaign on flood prevention upon returning.

Thinking further, once the flood peak enters Shishou, it's certain that the upper authorities will no longer consider diversion, as the North Gate of the Jingjiang flood diversion project is upstream, while Shishou, Jianli, and Hong Lake are downstream. Even if there's reinforcement here, it wouldn't be of much help there. Curiously, Secretary Ye asked, "Old Ge, the over three hundred thousand people relocated from Angong, can they return home in a few days?"

"Yes, we definitely need to let the people go home."

"Although the homes weren't flooded, moving once costs a significant economic loss."

"There's no choice in the matter." Old Ge tapped the ash from his cigarette, helplessly stating, "Among the over three hundred thousand relocated people, about half had been relocated once before, which was when we were securing the dangerous situation at the Yang Liu Village section."

The leadership cadres of the Angong County Party Committee and County Government are having a tough time, and the people of Angong County are suffering even more.

On the way back from comforting disaster-stricken people in Angong County, all thirty-eight thousand people within the flood control area were completely relocated. The once noisy countryside became deathly silent. No human figures could be seen, and during a stop to relieve oneself, several stray dogs suddenly bolted out of the dense cotton fields, making one's hair stand on end. This kind of situation perhaps only appeared when the Japanese army invaded China back then…

The engineering fleet left, but the logistical support fleet stayed.

Huang Yuanchang had long asked the Jingzhou Port Supervision Bureau to book hotels onshore for Secretary Ye and Director Ren, but they didn't rest in a hotel, rather stayed on the "Linghai Port Engineering Command Dunship" guest room instead.

Anyone who came to Jingzhou would worry about the Jingjiang flood situation.

Secretary Ye went to bed very late and got up very early.

Early on the first morning, just after getting up, he came to the office to inquire about the night's situation.

The Linghai Reserve Camp Instructor Yang Jianbo reported that the flood peak had entered the Shishou waters, but under the joint efforts of the troops and civilians guarding the dyke, no major dangerous situation occurred.

The engineering fleet of the First Team had no "place to exercise its skills," whereas the First Team's water transport fleet found its use. At the request of the Jingzhou Flood Control Command, they provided more than ten thousand sandbags and over thirty-eight thousand woven bags to several dike sections where floodwaters overflowed onto the sub-dam.

"So, Deputy Governor Zhou and the leaders of Jingzhou hope the engineering fleet never has anything to do?"

"Certainly, President Hao and the others having nothing to do means no dyke collapse occurred. If I were a provincial leader, I would also hope President Hao and the others have nothing to do."

"What about Salted Fish over there?"

"The situation on Secretary Han's side is similar. The flood control situation is far from the severe breach at Jiujiang, and the various districts and counties of Jingzhou dare not be careless. Right now, it's truly a matter of strict defense."

While speaking, Old Ge had the logistical support staff fetch some water.

Secretary Ye picked up his toothpaste and toothbrush, and pursued, "Is there any news from Jiujiang, did Yao Lirong and Sun Youyi call?"

"They called, at three-thirty in the morning."

Old Ge tidied up the office desk, so Secretary Ye could have breakfast after washing up, and sighed lightly, "Secretary Ye, you wouldn't believe it, the collapsed dyke was a section of a permanent flood wall built less than three years ago made of reinforced concrete, not the earth dykes like over here at Jingjiang."

Secretary Ye was shocked and turned around to ask, "How could a permanent flood wall breach?"

"In Yao Lirong's words, it's thirty percent natural disaster and seventy percent man-made disaster."

"There was a problem with the engineering quality? Was there any corner-cutting?"

"It's not just a problem with engineering quality; up and down the ranks, everyone was careless. Not to mention when we help others secure dike risks or defend the embankment, we select soil points away from the dike, at least one and a half kilometers from the dike.

But over there at Jiujiang, since the end of June, they started flood resistance, but on the inside of the breached dike section, there was a large pit left by a historical river channel, which they didn't think to fill with soil for over a month. This meant that section of the flood wall was soaked both inside and out.

Old Ge got angrier as he spoke, adding, "Yao Lirong mentioned just yesterday morning, the city leader there assured the superiors that their place was as solid as a rock, only for it to breach in the afternoon. Now not only has Vice President L gone, but also General L was on-site and so angry he was scolding them for creating a tofu-dreg project!"

"So, that Mayor is essentially at the end of his term."

"The original Mayor was transferred a few months ago; now it's an acting Mayor. The acting Mayor hasn't been in office long, so this may not rest on his shoulders. But the Vice Mayor in charge of flood control and water resources likely won't have it easy." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Secretary Ye pondered and then asked, "Can they block the breach?"

Old Ge solemnly replied, "It definitely can be blocked, but sealing it effectively is not easy. Yao Lirong said the urban area is flooded, and large machinery can't be moved in, so they can only rely on manpower. Evacuating the people means troops have to seal the breach, and soldiers pushed military vehicles into the breach, but the current is so fast that they're washed away as soon as they're pushed in; it can't be blocked.

Later, a few coal-carrying ships passing by were requisitioned to partially block the breach, but this only slightly reduced the water's impact; it didn't solve the problem. Now many engineers and sappers have gone; soldiers are jumping into the breach; some use their flesh and blood to block the water in front, while some drive stakes into the floodwaters with wood and steel pipes. According to Yao Lirong and Sun Youyi, that scene would bring tears to anyone's eyes."