Directive No. 08/2007/CT-TTg on Strengthening Flood and Storm Prevention and Rescue Operations to Minimize Damage Caused by Natural Disasters in 2007

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Flood and Typhoon Prevention and Mitigation Work, Search and Rescue Operations, and Reduction of Losses Caused by Natural Disasters in 2007

In 2006, typhoons, floods, flash floods... continuously occurred in our country, causing significant losses in terms of both lives and property. In the early months of 2007, weather, climate, and hydrological conditions exhibited many complex and abnormal phenomena contrary to regular patterns. Many regions across the country, particularly in the Red River Delta, midland, and northern mountainous provinces, Central Highlands, South Central Coast, and other localities, experienced much lower rainfall than the long-term average, leading to prolonged water shortages and droughts that affected production activities.

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To proactively prevent and mitigate floods, typhoons, and search and rescue operations in order to minimize losses caused by typhoons, floods, natural disasters, and accidents, thereby making important contributions to successfully fulfilling economic and social tasks in 2007, the Prime Minister instructs ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the following matters:

1. Organize the evaluation and draw lessons from flood and typhoon prevention and mitigation work and search and rescue operations in 2006 and previous years to develop plans and strategies for proactive prevention, mitigation, and timely and effective handling before, during, and after typhoons, floods, and natural disasters occur.

It is necessary to recognize the task of preventing, reducing losses caused by natural disasters as a regular task, especially during the rainy season; mobilize the strength of the entire population, utilize the combined strength of the political system to "proactively prevent, respond promptly, and effectively address and overcome" in all situations.

2. Consolidate and improve the Command for Flood and Typhoon Prevention and Mitigation and Search and Rescue at all levels towards efficiency and effectiveness; direct and guide the promotion of propaganda and education efforts to raise community awareness about typhoons, floods, natural disasters, and take proactive measures to prevent and avoid them, particularly in South Central provinces and the Mekong Delta. At the same time, promote and publicize to fishermen and owners of fishing vessels the necessity of equipping themselves with knowledge, ensuring adequate safety equipment, purchasing insurance for crew members, and considering this as a mandatory condition for people and vessels when going out to sea for fishing.

a) Direct and inspect plans for mobilizing and deploying forces, materials, and means to protect dikes and dams and flood and typhoon prevention and mitigation and search and rescue operations in each district, commune, and village; review and determine specifically the quantity and types of means and materials currently available for flood and typhoon prevention and mitigation and search and rescue operations to ensure sufficient reserves for prompt mobilization when natural disasters, incidents, and accidents occur.

3. Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government:

b) Inspect and direct to accelerate progress and ensure completion of dike repair plans before the rainy season according to regulations; organize well the forces for dike protection, flood prevention, and search and rescue operations at the local level. For provinces from Quang Ninh to Quang Nam, direct and accelerate the implementation of the Program to consolidate, protect, and upgrade coastal dikes according to Decision No. 58/2006/QĐ-TTg dated March 14, 2006 of the Prime Minister.

c) Develop plans and organize the deployment of forces and means to ensure readiness for evacuation when necessary. Strengthen inspection and supervision of flood and typhoon prevention and mitigation in key areas, weak zones, deep flooded areas, river mouths, lakes, coastal areas, and water storage facilities within the jurisdiction:

- Coastal provinces must organize well the communication system with fishing boats from their own locality, especially those operating far offshore; direct the organization of division of responsibilities and clearly define duties in managing fishing boats and crew members when typhoons and tropical depressions are active. Direct and inspect the registration of fishing boats and crew members at the village and commune level to accurately grasp the number of people, boats, and fishing grounds in operation; simultaneously take measures to correct and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Develop plans for maritime search and rescue operations when typhoons and incidents occur.

- For mountainous, midland, and regions at risk of flash floods and landslides, implement well preventive measures according to the spirit of Directive No. 32/2004/CT-TTg dated September 17, 2004 of the Prime Minister; direct the implementation of warning measures and develop plans for the proactive relocation of people and assets to safe locations.

d) When floods, typhoons, or natural disasters occur, localities must proactively respond and mitigate consequences according to the principle of "four on-site" (command on-site; force on-site; materials, means, and funds on-site; logistics on-site), while actively using local budgets and mobilizing other sources of funds according to regulations on typhoon and flood prevention and mitigation and aftermath management to stabilize production and livelihoods in disaster-stricken areas as soon as possible.

4. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment directs the implementation of the Regulation on Tropical Depression, Typhoon, and Flood Reporting issued together with Decision No. 307/2005/QĐ-TTg dated November 25, 2005 and the Regulation on Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning issued together with Decision No. 264/2006/QĐ-TTg dated November 16, 2006 of the Prime Minister; direct the National Hydro-Meteorological Center to monitor, update, and process information on flood and typhoon developments, earthquake reports, tsunami warnings, especially forecasts of tropical depression and typhoons for vessels operating at sea and warnings of flash floods for localities; provide typhoon warnings at least 48 hours in advance for cases where typhoons are moving over the South China Sea to inform and transmit information to vessels at sea to proactively prevent and avoid them; simultaneously enhance capabilities to provide early, accurate forecasts and warnings and notify relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and the public to proactively respond.

4. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall direct the effective implementation of the Regulation on Tropical Depression, Typhoon, and Flood issued together with Decision No. 307/2005/QĐ-TTg dated November 25, 2005, and the Regulation on Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning issued together with Decision No. 264/2006/QĐ-TTg dated November 16, 2006, of the Government Chairman; direct the National Hydro-meteorological Center to monitor, update, and process information on flood, typhoon developments, earthquake information, tsunami warnings, especially tropical depression and typhoon forecasts for vessels operating at sea, and flash flood warnings for localities; provide typhoon warning information at least 48 hours in advance for cases where typhoons are moving over the South China Sea to inform and transmit information to vessels at sea to proactively prevent and avoid dangers; simultaneously enhance capabilities to provide early, accurate forecasts and warnings and notify relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and the public to proactively respond.

Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, and other mass media organizations shall closely coordinate with the National Hydro-Meteorological Center, the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, and relevant agencies to ensure timely announcements and transmissions about flood, storm, natural disaster conditions, and preventive and control measures taken by ministries, sectors, and localities so that the public can be informed and take proactive precautions.

5. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications shall develop plans to ensure uninterrupted communication networks for flood and storm prevention and rescue operations under all circumstances, especially during floods, storms, and natural disasters; promptly submit a proposal on organizing information services for disaster prevention and control at sea in accordance with the spirit of the Prime Minister's Office Circular No. 1346/VPCP-NN dated March 15, 2007; cooperate with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Fisheries, and relevant agencies to effectively utilize coastal information stations to provide timely storm and tropical depression information to ships and boats operating at sea.

6. The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control:

 a) Strengthen and improve organizational structure to enhance operational efficiency, command effectiveness, and establish cooperation regulations with the National Search and Rescue Commission and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in performing flood and storm prevention and control tasks and search and rescue operations;

 b) Enhance the role and responsibility of the Steering Committee and its members; monitor and grasp the situation of natural disasters to make timely and proactive decisions to prevent and mitigate their impacts;

 c) Supervise and urge ministries, sectors, and localities to fulfill their flood and storm prevention and control responsibilities; simultaneously compile the situation and propose necessary measures to the Prime Minister to minimize losses caused by natural disasters.

7. The National Search and Rescue Commission:

 a) Review and revise plans and activities, and establish coordination regulations for search and rescue operations to ensure practicality and readiness for any situation;

 b) Effectively implement Decision No. 46/QĐ-TTg dated February 28, 2006 of the Prime Minister regarding the approval of the Master Plan for the Search and Rescue Sector until 2015 with a vision to 2020; in the short term, review and grasp the quantity and types of equipment and supplies essential for search and rescue operations to promptly adjust and supplement them to meet assigned requirements and tasks;

 c) Closely cooperate with the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Defense, and forces from various ministries, sectors, and localities to carry out search and rescue missions and handle aftermaths of accidents promptly and effectively.

8. The Ministry of Fisheries:

 a) Direct, inspect, and urge the implementation of safety measures for marine fishing activities in various sea areas, particularly distant waters, in accordance with Government Directive No. 22/2006/CT-TTg dated June 30, 2006;

 b) Cooperate with the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies in utilizing coastal information stations effectively to ensure timely transmission of storm and tropical depression information to fishing vessels;

 c) Establish regulations on the management of fishing vessels, communication, and mutual support during storms and maritime incidents; guide anchoring procedures for fishing vessels to avoid storms and protect aquaculture and farming areas from damage;

 d) Direct and guide localities to review and rectify registration and inspection procedures for fishing vessels and crew members to track the number of active vessels and respond promptly to rescue situations when necessary;

 đ) Inspect and urge the construction of storm shelters for fishing vessels approved by competent authorities, especially in high-frequency storm areas near major fishing grounds.

9. The Ministry of National Defense shall review plans and arrangements for force deployment and equipment readiness to participate in dike and dam rescue operations, flood and storm prevention and control projects, and search and rescue missions; direct border guard and coast guard forces to cooperate with local authorities and relevant agencies to strictly control and firmly prohibit people and fishing vessels from operating without adequate safety equipment as required; direct prompt response and handling of emergency situations and aftermaths of floods and storms, ensuring the military remains the main force in these efforts.

10. The Ministry of Public Security shall instruct agencies and units to develop plans and measures to ensure social security and public order during storms, floods, and natural disasters; direct sectoral forces to cooperate with military forces, other sectors, and localities in rescue operations and aftermath handling.

11. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct, inspect, and urge localities to complete dike repair work; develop plans to ensure the safety of reservoirs and dams; direct localities frequently affected by floods and storms to arrange production structures and seasons appropriately to reduce losses during the rainy season; coordinate and guide localities to organize the relocation of residents from dangerous landslide-prone areas, riverbanks, coastal zones, and areas at risk of flash floods and landslides to safe locations.

12. The Ministry of Transport shall have plans to ensure smooth traffic during the rainy and stormy season; prepare forces, means, and materials to participate in handling major incidents concerning dikes, dams, and flood diversion; take measures for rescue and replacement when bridges, roads, ports, etc., suffer damage or flooding to ensure smooth operation of main and important transportation routes; coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries and relevant agencies to strengthen state management over vessels operating on rivers and seas; inspect and urge the implementation of regulations on management, inspection, registration of ships, boats, and necessary equipment to ensure safety for people and vessels; direct coastal radio stations to closely monitor typhoon and tropical depression developments to promptly provide information and communication to vessels operating at sea to effectively prevent and avoid risks.

13. Other ministries and sectors shall, within their functions and assigned tasks, be responsible for directing and implementing well the work of flood and storm prevention and rescue, and mitigating consequences caused by storms and floods within their respective ministries and sectors. At the same time, they must be ready with necessary forces, means, and materials to cooperate and participate in flood and storm prevention and rescue operations according to the directives of the Prime Minister, the Head of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Rescue, and the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Commission.

14. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall prioritize balancing and allocating funds for dike projects, flood and storm prevention and rescue, and disaster aftermath recovery work in 2007.

15. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the central government shall be responsible for organizing and strictly implementing this Directive./.