Directive No. 08/2008/CT-TTg on natural disaster prevention, flood, storm response, and search and rescue operations in 2008

DIRECTIVE

On flood and storm prevention and rescue work in 2008

and disaster relief

Due to the impact of global climate change, in recent years, natural disasters have occurred more frequently in our country, with strong typhoons, floods, flash floods, and abnormal weather patterns causing significant losses of life and property for both the people and the State. At the beginning of 2008, unusual weather phenomena appeared: a tropical depression emerged as early as January; widespread water shortages and droughts occurred; prolonged severe cold affected agricultural production in the Red River Delta and North Central regions. The forecast for the 2008 flood and storm season indicates many complex developments.

To proactively prevent and combat natural disasters, floods, and storms, minimize human and property losses, contribute to social stability, and successfully fulfill economic and social development tasks in 2008, the Prime Minister instructs ministries, sectors, agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to implement the following matters well:

1. Organize summaries, evaluations, and lessons learned from flood and storm prevention and control work in 2007, promote effective practices, and identify reasons for shortcomings and weaknesses to develop immediate solutions before the 2008 rainy season.

Recognize disaster prevention as a regular task and an important component integrated into development plans and projects across all industries, fields, and localities.

2. Strengthen and improve the structure of Flood and Storm Prevention and Rescue Command Boards at central and local levels. Provide supplementary training on disaster prevention knowledge and experience for newly appointed officials. Regularly disseminate information through mass media about various types of disasters and preventive methods to enhance community understanding and proactive measures.

3. Proactively coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the contents, tasks, programs, and projects assigned by the Prime Minister in the National Strategy for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Reduction until 2020 as stipulated in Decision No. 172/2007/QĐ-TTg dated November 16, 2007.

4. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

a) Develop local disaster prevention programs, proactively arrange population resettlement plans. During the flood season, prepare evacuation plans for dangerous areas such as river mouths, coastal zones, and areas prone to flooding and landslides. Deploy leaders and specialized forces to monitor and inspect key areas. Proactively allocate equipment, supplies, and food reserves down to village and commune levels, and budget reserves down to district levels according to the principle of "four localities," especially in areas often isolated during storms and floods. Formulate safety plans for reservoirs within the jurisdiction and detailed rescue plans for dam failures.

b) Chairmen of provincial People's Committees are responsible for mobilizing local resources as prescribed to effectively manage disaster prevention, aftermath recovery, and rescue operations within their jurisdictions. Actively utilize local budgets, central support funds, and other legitimate sources to quickly stabilize residents' lives, restore production, repair and reconstruct infrastructure damaged by 2007 storms and floods, and complete these tasks before the 2008 rainy season.

c) Provinces and cities with river dikes should inspect and urge the timely completion of dike maintenance and reinforcement projects, construction of retaining walls, and protective works as specified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Develop detailed plans for mobilizing personnel, materials, and equipment for dike rescue operations in case of emergencies. Coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Quang Nam must complete dike reinforcement projects in weak areas before the 2008 rainy season.

d) Coastal provinces should organize registration and inspection of fishing vessels according to their level of authority; cooperate with Border Guard Forces to strictly check communication equipment, life-saving devices, and safety equipment on fishing vessels based on their operating sea zones; establish provincial databases connected to national databases for fishing vessel management. When there are disasters, typhoons, or tropical depressions in the East Sea, coordinate with coastal Border Guard Forces and Marine Information Stations to track the number of vessels and fishermen from their own province operating at sea and provide guidance for safe movement.

e) Mountainous provinces should install warning devices in high-risk areas for flash floods and landslides, equip villages with communication tools for early warnings and emergency rescue operations. Proactively plan relocation of households living in high-risk areas to safer new settlements.

5. The Central Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee:

a) Improve organizational structures, assign specific tasks to members, and assist the Government and Prime Minister in advising on flood and storm prevention and mitigation measures; coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Commission to inspect and urge ministries, sectors, and localities to implement flood and storm prevention and rescue operations in 2008.

b) Before the 2008 rainy season, organize training sessions on technical skills for flood and storm prevention for cadres at the county level, and proactively propose necessary decisions to the Prime Minister to enhance the effectiveness of disaster prevention and control efforts.

6. The National Search and Rescue Commission:

a) Direct the ministries, sectors, and localities to review the types of equipment and materials for search and rescue currently available at regional centers, provinces, and centrally governed cities, and develop plans to timely supplement the necessary quantities and types of equipment (rescue ships, boats, tents, life jackets...) especially prioritizing areas frequently affected by natural disasters, floods, and storms.

b) Direct, inspect, and urge ministries, sectors, and localities to establish plans and scenarios for search and rescue operations for each region and specific types of natural disasters. Conduct training and drills for relevant units to proactively and effectively implement search and rescue operations.

c) Closely coordinate with the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and related ministries and sectors in directing, managing, and implementing search and rescue operations in 2008. Proactively submit to the Prime Minister requests for the timely provision and issuance of search and rescue equipment and supplies to ministries, sectors, and localities before the 2008 rainy season and storm season.

d) Organize the implementation of Decision No. 1656/QĐ-TTg dated December 6, 2007, of the Prime Minister approving the detailed list of types of search and rescue equipment and the list of investment projects for the production and procurement of search and rescue equipment until 2015.

7. The Ministry of National Defense:

a) Develop plans for mobilizing and deploying forces and equipment necessary for each region and area to be ready to respond to urgent situations involving floods and storms, to carry out search and rescue operations, and to participate in dike and dam rescue operations when incidents occur.

b) Deploy forces and equipment, organize exercises, and be prepared to implement flood diversion and delay tasks within the Red River system to ensure safety for the capital city of Hanoi.

c) Direct Border Guard Forces and Coast Guard to strictly inspect the provision of communication devices and safety equipment for vessels and fishermen operating at sea according to regulations; direct units to mobilize military forces to assist localities in mitigating the aftermath of natural disasters, floods, and storms, ensuring that the military is the main force in prevention, control, and mitigation of disaster consequences.

8. The Ministry of Public Security shall direct agencies and units to develop plans and scenarios to ensure security and social order during natural disasters, floods, and storms; direct forces within the sector to cooperate with the military and local authorities to evacuate people from dangerous areas, participate in rescue operations, and mitigate disaster consequences.

9. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Direct, inspect, and urge provinces and centrally governed cities with dikes to complete dike maintenance work in 2008 as stipulated; direct the establishment of operational procedures for reservoirs, participate in flood reduction for downstream areas, develop safety assurance plans for dike and reservoir structures and disaster prevention works; ensure ongoing construction projects comply with flood passage deadlines.

b) Organize research and guidance for regions frequently affected by natural disasters to proactively adjust crop structures, planting seasons, and livestock breeding to suit the characteristics of recurring natural disasters in their areas; inspect and plan seed supply for regions to restore production after natural disasters; replenish national reserves of essential seeds managed by the Ministry.

c) Direct regions to strictly manage the number of vessels and fishermen operating at sea, particularly during natural disasters; implement registration and inspection, and direct regions to organize registration and inspection of fishing vessels according to classification levels; issue regulations and timelines requiring fishing vessels to be equipped with direct communication devices.

d) Accelerate the construction progress of storm shelters for vessels according to approved planning; disseminate anchoring techniques for vessels in storm shelters to localities to prevent vessel sinking while anchored.

đ) Coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of National Defense to effectively utilize coastal maritime information stations and border guard coastal information systems to serve disaster prevention and control and marine search and rescue operations.

10. The Ministry of Transport:

a) Direct units within the sector and localities to develop plans to ensure traffic during the rainy and storm seasons; prepare reserve materials and pre-position them in key areas on major and important transportation routes to promptly address and replace damaged bridges, roads, ports, etc., caused by natural disasters, ensuring smooth traffic flow in all situations; specialized units under the Maritime Administration Bureau and Inland Waterways Bureau maintain readiness to execute search and rescue operations upon orders.

b) Direct units to develop traffic diversion plans, prepare equipment, personnel, and materials to be ready to evacuate people from flood diversion and delay zones according to the Red River Basin Flood Diversion and Delay Regulations issued together with Government Decree No. 62/1999/NĐ-CP dated July 31, 1999, and participate in large-scale dike and reservoir repair operations upon orders.

11. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) Direct the National Hydro-Meteorological Center to continuously monitor hydro-meteorological conditions, refer to weather information from domestic and international meteorological organizations, issue official warnings about tropical depressions, typhoons, floods, provide timely typhoon warning bulletins 48 hours in advance and the development of tropical depressions and floods, forecast river flood flows and reservoir inflows to ensure effective flood prevention and control.

b) Coordinate with the Institute of Geophysics to receive tsunami information from the international tsunami monitoring network and coastal wave monitoring network, promptly report earthquake and tsunami warnings to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement preventive measures.

c) Continue to implement projects and programs: urgent investment to enhance meteorological and hydrological forecasting capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, with a focus on typhoon forecasting as stated in Circular No. 62/TTg-NN dated January 11, 2007 of the Prime Minister; the component to strengthen the disaster warning system in the World Bank-funded Disaster Risk Management Project (WB4); establish flood-prone area risk maps and install flash flood warning equipment for localities.

12. The Ministry of Information and Communications:

a) Develop plans to ensure smooth communication networks for flood and storm prevention and rescue operations in all situations, especially during natural disasters, floods, and storms; urge relevant ministries and sectors to implement the Information Organization Plan to Serve Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Work at Sea as decided in Decision No. 137/2007/QĐ-TTg dated August 21, 2007 of the Prime Minister.

b) Direct telecommunications enterprises to improve the speed and quality of connections between relevant ministries and sectors and coastal radio stations, border guard information systems to serve disaster forecasting and rescue operations; build specialized communication networks to serve command and control of disaster prevention and mitigation work; plan and allocate frequencies to serve disaster forecasting and rescue operations.

13. The Ministry of Industry and Trade:

a) Direct Vietnam Electricity Corporation and independent hydropower plants to develop plans to ensure safety for hydropower reservoirs, prepare personnel, reserve materials, equipment, and means ready for rescue operations when accidents occur; quickly restore power supply damage caused by natural disasters; coordinate with related agencies and local authorities to review hydropower reservoir operation procedures to ensure participation in flood regulation downstream and safety of facilities.

b) Direct units within the sector to develop plans to reserve essential goods and supplies, particularly instant noodles, dried food, bottled water, gasoline, and diesel oil ready for provision to areas affected by natural disasters, floods, and storms upon request.

14. Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and other mass media must closely cooperate with the National Hydro-meteorological Center, the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, and related agencies to accurately and promptly report on the situation and development of natural disasters, floods, and storms, and the directives of the Prime Minister and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control to ministries, sectors, and localities to timely and effectively implement disaster prevention and mitigation measures.

15. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance should balance and prioritize funding for dike repair and improvement projects, construction of facilities for disaster prevention and mitigation, and rescue operations; allocate budget reserves to support ministries, sectors, and localities in quickly mitigating the consequences caused by natural disasters, floods, and storms.

16. Ministries and sectors shall, according to their assigned functions and responsibilities, be responsible for effectively implementing disaster prevention and mitigation, flood and storm prevention, and rescue operations, and mitigating the consequences caused by natural disasters, floods, and storms within their respective jurisdictions; at the same time, they must prepare personnel, means, and necessary materials to participate in disaster prevention and mitigation, flood and storm prevention, and rescue operations as directed by the Prime Minister, the Head of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, and the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Commission.

17. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal people's committees directly under the central government are responsible for strictly organizing and directing the implementation of this Directive.