From July 17th to 23rd, 2021, Henan Province was hit by extreme heavy rainfall. Large - scale torrential rains occurred in the central - western and north - western regions, and exceptionally heavy rains hit some areas. Zhengzhou experienced torrential and extremely heavy rainfall for two consecutive days on July 19th and 20th. The maximum continuous precipitation duration reached 72 hours. The average rainfall in the city was 465.7 millimeters, and the maximum hourly rainfall was 201.9 millimeters, breaking the historical extreme value of hourly rainfall on the Chinese mainland. Serious waterlogging occurred in the urban areas of Zhengzhou, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang and other places. Subways were suspended, and communications, power, railways, roads, and civil aviation were severely affected.
After the disaster struck, Zhang Yong, the general commander of the Blue Sky Rescue operation, promptly organized the heads of the Blue Sky Rescue teams in nearby provinces for an emergency meeting. They formulated a joint disaster - relief support plan and mobilized the rescue forces of the Blue Sky Rescue teams from various provinces to rush to the aid of Henan. Meanwhile, an application was actively submitted to the China Charity Federation, and the joint disaster - relief operation of the Blue Sky Rescue Team under the China Charity Federation was promptly launched.
With the support of the China Charity Federation and the local Party committees and governments in cities such as Zhengzhou and Xinxiang, the Blue Sky Rescue actively cooperated with departments including flood control and drought relief, emergency management, health, and charity. It organized and coordinated support forces from various parties, established a rear - end information platform and support system. A general headquarters for the joint disaster - relief operation and a joint emergency supplies transfer warehouse in Zhongmu were set up in Zhengzhou, and a front - line on - site command post was established in Xinxiang. The Blue Sky Rescue teams authorized by 22 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government across the country, including Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, and Chongqing, were mobilized to rush to help Henan. A disaster prevention and disinfection operation team consisting of over 210 people was coordinated, equipped with disinfection equipment, agents, and protective gear, to comprehensively carry out front - line disaster - relief work, supplies transfer, and epidemic prevention and disinfection in Zhengzhou and Xinxiang.
As of now, a total of 3,008 Blue Sky Rescue volunteers from 359 Blue Sky Rescue teams authorized in 22 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government across the country have rushed to Henan to participate in the joint disaster - relief operation, dispatching 487 vehicles and 356 boats. According to incomplete statistics, from July 21st to 26th, 84,353 trapped people were transferred (including 158 newborn infants, 2,947 children, 3,445 elderly people, 634 seriously ill patients, 729 women, 60 pregnant women, and 10 disabled people). Suspected areas of 56,399 square meters were inspected, 2 dams were built, 1 bridge was cleared of obstacles, 6 deceased bodies were retrieved, 5 vehicles were rescued from trouble, and 6 medical rescue operations were carried out. Basic disinfection of 9.1 million square meters was completed in 75 units and residential communities in cities such as Zhengzhou and Xinxiang. 500 meters of washed - out roads were repaired, and 4,500 square meters of collapsed areas were cleared. Safety lectures on preventing drowning and stampedes were organized for people in resettlement sites. At the warehouse of the China Charity Federation (hereinafter referred to as the warehouse), about 19,078 pieces of various rescue equipment and supplies and 739 sets of equipment were received and transferred. 6,883 pieces of supplies were distributed at the front - line command post in Xinxiang, and 37,372 pieces of supplies were transferred.
At present, the authorized teams of the Blue Sky Rescue have been operating continuously for 9 days in the disaster - stricken areas of Henan. More than 3,000 Blue Sky Rescue volunteers are charging ahead in the front - line work of rescue, transfer, and disinfection. Selflessly and regardless of themselves, they race against time, work day and night without rest, and carry out various disaster - relief tasks in an orderly and effective manner. In the coming period, Henan will still have frequent rainfall, and extreme heavy rainfall may still occur in some areas. The vast number of Blue Sky Rescue members thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, carry forward the spirit of continuous combat, earnestly implement the people - first and life - first concept in all aspects and throughout the whole process of flood control and disaster relief. United as one and working with one heart, they strive to win this tough battle of flood control and disaster relief, and aim to restore the order of production and daily life as soon as possible!