Record Rainstorm Floods Henan Province, Prompting Massive Emergency Response and Rescue Operations

The numbers tell a stark story. From 8 a.m. on September 10 to the same hour the following day, Xuchang recorded 163.8 mm of rain – the highest 24‑hour in the country. In some streets, water piled up to 2.9 metres, forcing residents onto the roofs of cars and prompting urgent rescue calls. In response, local authorities have taken sweeping measures. Xuchang’s central urban district has halted work, commerce, public transport and school classes, while Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, moved into a “rainstorm defense” mode. A yellow rainstorm warning was issued at 4:50 a.m., and the city activated a Level IV emergency response for flood prevention. More than five thousand personnel, including 1,753 responders and seventy mobile pump trucks, have been positioned at 237 high‑risk points, and all non‑residential primary, secondary schools and kindergartens were closed for the day.

The province’s transportation network is also on high alert. Over ten thousand staff from 250 teams stand ready for flood‑prevention and rescue duties, and many highway toll stations have barred all traffic or restricted vehicles with more than seven seats because of rising waters. The strain on infrastructure echoes the memory of the catastrophic floods that devastated Henan in July 2021, when Zhengzhou experienced a sudden, city‑wide inundation that claimed hundreds of lives and left millions displaced. That tragedy still looms in the public consciousness, prompting even greater vigilance this time around.

Beyond the immediate danger of rising waters, health experts warn of a secondary threat: thunderstorm asthma. The phenomenon, triggered when rain‑laden pollen grains burst into fine, highly allergenic particles, can unleash sudden, severe asthma attacks in susceptible individuals. With the intense thunderstorms sweeping the province, medical services are on standby to treat any surge in respiratory emergencies.

Henan’s response involves a broad coalition of governmental bodies, state enterprises, and private firms. The provincial government is coordinating overall disaster management, from rescue operations to the longer‑term reconstruction plan that will follow once the waters recede. The Chinese Communist Party’s central leadership, under General Secretary Xi Jinping, monitors the situation and ensures national resources are mobilised. Local Communist Youth League chapters have taken to social media, urging users to locate and protect journalists covering the event, underscoring the importance placed on accurate information flow.

Utilities are racing to restore power. Engineers from State Grid’s Jiading Branch, including Zhao Kai and Li Zhun, have been dispatched to repair damaged lines and ensure electricity reaches critical facilities. Financial institutions, notably state‑owned banks, have earmarked emergency funds to support affected households and businesses, while Fitch Ratings has highlighted the looming pressure on China’s non‑life insurance sector as claims from flood damage mount.

Tech giants are also stepping in. Short‑video platform Kuaishou pledged RMB 50 million for relief and rebuilding, and other companies such as Tencent and Baidu have offered logistical support and data resources to aid emergency crews. Environmental firms, including Zheneng Jinjiang Environment Holding, are expected to contribute to longer‑term flood‑mitigation projects, though their roles are still being defined.

For ordinary residents, the advice is simple but urgent: avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and seek shelter at the first sign of heavy rain. Social media feeds from the province are filled with messages of solidarity, live updates on road closures, and personal accounts of families battling water‑logged homes. Delivery drivers, commuters and students alike share pictures of streets turned into rivers, while volunteers post calls for assistance and thank rescue workers for their bravery.

As the rain continues to hammer Henan, the province’s extensive emergency apparatus is being put to the test. The combination of aggressive early warnings, massive personnel deployments, and a coordinated response from governmental and private actors offers a stark contrast to the chaotic scramble seen in 2021. Yet the human toll remains uncertain, and the full impact on lives, infrastructure and the regional economy will only become clear in the days and weeks ahead. For now, Henan’s cities stand poised between the relentless downpour and the hope that swift action will keep the disaster from eclipsing the worst of its recent past.