Editorial: North China’s Deluge Calls for a ‘Disaster Awakening’

China’s disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief system faces significant challenges. The recent torrential rain in North China has led to devastating floods, resulting in dozens of deaths or missing persons in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where urban and rural life has been disrupted and the local economy has taken a severe hit. The government has activated multiple flood retention areas and relocated a large number of people. This not only demonstrates the government’s strong mobilization capabilities, but also highlights the severity of the disaster and the challenges of reconstruction. While rescue efforts have been great, serious reflection is needed to prepare for the next unforeseeable disaster.