Directive No. 06/2000/CT-TTg on flood, storm prevention, and disaster mitigation work in 2000

DIRECTIVE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

On flood and storm prevention and mitigation work for natural disasters in 2000

Due to the influence of global and regional climate change, abnormal weather, climate, and hydrological phenomena are occurring more frequently and becoming increasingly complex. In 1999, in our country, widespread drought persisted, heavy floods occurred with intense strength and without following regular patterns, sea levels rose; in November and December 1999, two major floods successively hit central provinces, exceeding historical flood levels, causing severe losses of life and property for both the people and the State. To effectively carry out flood and storm prevention and response work in 2000, proactively deal with all unfavorable situations regarding floods, storms, and natural disasters that may occur, the Prime Minister instructs ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and provincial People's Committees under the Central Government to implement the following tasks well:

Strengthen and streamline all levels of Flood and Storm Prevention Command Boards according to the principle of being compact and powerful. In areas frequently affected by floods, storms, and complex natural disasters, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall directly serve as the Head of the Board.

1. Summarize experiences from flood and storm prevention work in 1999, develop detailed plans and strategies for flood and storm prevention and natural disaster mitigation in 2000, closely aligned with actual conditions and characteristics of each region and locality; inspect, urge, and direct the organization and implementation of these plans.

Ministries, sectors, and localities must closely coordinate, timely and comprehensively guide to maximize collective strength, minimize human and property losses caused by natural disasters to the lowest possible extent.

2. Continue to thoroughly understand and organize the implementation of the principle of "four at the site" (command at the site; forces at the site; materials and equipment at the site; immediate needs at the site).

For remote areas, flood-prone regions, and regions designated for flood diversion from July to November, each household must store sufficient food and essential supplies, including necessary medicines, for at least seven days; each district must ensure a minimum stockpile of 10 tons of instant noodles and 10 tons of rice.

Prepare adequate quantities and types of materials and equipment; organize training and drills for various scenarios to be ready to fulfill rescue missions for people, property, and infrastructure.

Consolidate and strengthen communication networks to ensure smooth operation in all situations, forecasting, and warning systems. Strictly adhere to duty shifts during the rainy and stormy seasons.

3. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for:

Based on the flood and storm prevention plan for 2000, clearly assign responsibilities and organize its implementation at all levels and sectors.

Provinces with levees:

Must urgently complete the repair and reinforcement plan for levees before the rainy and flood season; inspect and evaluate the quality of each levee section, promptly address any damage to levees, revetments, and sluices.

Develop specific levee protection plans for each section and key area, ready to effectively respond to all situations; have plans to evacuate and protect residents in riverbank and levee backwater areas only until warning level 2.

Provinces with reservoirs must regularly inspect and identify damages, promptly repair them before the flood and storm season; have plans to ensure absolute safety for infrastructure and residents in downstream areas.

Provinces with designated flood diversion areas must have specific plans to proactively respond when implementing flood diversion measures; organize timely evacuations to ensure the safety of lives and property for residents according to Decree No. 62/1999/NĐ-CP dated July 31, 1999 of the Government.

Organize monitoring of landslides along rivers and coasts, promptly warn the public to prepare and organize evacuation of people and property to safe locations.

When natural disasters occur, localities must proactively mobilize all available resources to respond and mitigate losses to the lowest possible extent for both people and the State.

4. Central ministries and sectors are responsible for:

The Central Flood and Storm Prevention Steering Committee will cooperate with ministries, sectors, and localities to develop emergency response plans for floods and storms; assist the Government in effective command and management; inspect and urge ministries, sectors, and localities in fulfilling flood and storm prevention tasks in 2000. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry, and Vietnam Electricity Corporation must strengthen inspections and evaluations of water storage facility quality under their management before the flood and storm season, take timely measures to ensure absolute safety of facilities. Direct the operation of water regulation according to approved procedures, ensuring flood prevention, power generation, and water supply for other purposes.

The Hydro-Meteorological General Administration must improve the quality of forecasts and warnings, especially early predictions of complex flood and storm scenarios, and provide continuous and timely information to support command and guidance operations.

The Postal General Administration is responsible for prioritizing flood and storm prevention communication networks; ensure uninterrupted communication even during floods and storms.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: Direct the completion of plans to reinforce and repair the dike system, dams, and irrigation works before the rainy and flood season.

The Ministry of National Defense, the National Search and Rescue Commission for Air and Sea: Develop plans, deploy forces and equipment to be ready for rescue operations, handle urgent flood and storm situations, and perform search and rescue tasks effectively.

The Ministry of Public Security: Develop plans, deploy forces and equipment to participate in rescue operations, ensure social security when natural disasters occur, and cooperate with military forces, sectors, and localities in rescue operations.

The Ministry of Fisheries takes the initiative to coordinate with coastal provincial People's Committees and related ministries and sectors to strictly implement regulations ensuring the safety of fishermen and fishing vessels operating at sea.

The Ministry of Transport prepares plans to ensure readiness of forces, materials, and equipment for rescue operations when bridges and roads suffer damage to maintain traffic flow; prepare materials, equipment, and forces to participate in handling major dike and revetment incidents upon request.

The Ministry of Transport shall prepare forces, materials, and rescue means to be ready when bridges and roads suffer damage to ensure smooth traffic; prepare materials, means, and forces to participate in handling major dike and embankment emergencies upon request.

The Ministry of Commerce shall coordinate with the People's Committees of the provinces to develop plans to ensure reserves of essential goods. Proactively supply goods to remote and mountainous areas before the flood and storm season, and meet the requirements for post-flood and post-storm recovery as set forth by the Government.

The Ministry of Culture, Information, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and other mass media organizations shall strengthen their information dissemination efforts, promptly disseminating forecasts, warnings, policies, directives, and orders regarding flood and storm prevention and control; collaborate with specialized agencies to enhance public education on basic knowledge about disaster prevention and mitigation.

The Ministries and sectors: Construction, Science, Technology and Environment, Health, Planning and Investment, Finance, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Education and Training, and other relevant Ministries and sectors shall, within their assigned functions and tasks, intensify guidance, plan implementation, and effectively complete the work of flood and storm prevention, control, and aftermath recovery in 2000.

Central Ministries and sectors, in addition to performing well their own flood and storm prevention and control duties, must also prepare personnel, equipment, and materials ready to carry out flood and storm prevention, control, and aftermath recovery tasks upon mobilization by the Prime Minister and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control.

The Prime Minister requests that the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of centrally governed cities and provinces organize and strictly implement this Directive./.