Directive No. 12/2005/CT-TTg on flood and storm prevention and rescue work in 2005

DIRECTIVE

On flood and storm prevention and rescue work in 2005

Our country is located in a position frequently affected by typhoons and floods. In 2004 and the early months of 2005, weather, climate, and hydrological conditions exhibited unusual and contrary-to-norm changes. Many regions in the country experienced significantly lower rainfall than the long-term average, with prolonged heatwaves and droughts over wide areas. Particularly, the Central Highlands and South Central Coast regions had virtually no rain, large water reservoirs were at only 25-30% capacity, and many medium and small reservoirs had dried up completely. The Red River's water level dropped to its lowest point in the last 100 years. Typhoon No. 01 appeared early in March 2005 at a low latitude. The year 2005 marks the 60-year cycle since 1945 (the Year of the Wooden Rooster), which saw exceptionally severe flooding causing breaches in the dykes in the Northern Delta provinces, resulting in numerous deaths, crop failures, and contributing to widespread famine along with other factors.

To proactively prevent and combat floods and storms and conduct rescue operations with the principle of "proactive prevention, timely response, prompt and effective remediation," minimizing losses caused by typhoons, floods, and potential accidents during the rainy season, especially human casualties, and contributing to the successful completion of economic and social tasks for 2005, the Prime Minister instructs central ministries, sectors, and local authorities at all levels to organize and implement the following matters effectively:

1. Strengthen and improve the Flood and Storm Prevention and Rescue Command at all levels towards efficiency and strength; direct reviews to complete plans and strategies for flood and storm prevention and rescue closely aligned with reality and characteristics of each ministry, sector, and locality; enhance inspections and urging, particularly in key and vulnerable areas prone to floods, storms, and natural disasters, to handle situations promptly and appropriately in all scenarios.

2. Ministries, sectors, and localities continue to thoroughly understand and implement assigned tasks as stipulated in Decision No. 63/2002/QĐ-TTg dated May 20, 2002, on flood and storm prevention and disaster mitigation issued by the Prime Minister; Decision No. 63/2000/QĐ-TTg dated June 7, 2000, on renaming and expanding the mission of the National Search and Rescue Committee; coordinate closely and provide timely guidance to leverage comprehensive strength to proactively counteract natural disasters and accidents effectively.

3. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities:

- Based on the 2005 flood and storm prevention and rescue plan and strategy, clearly assign responsibilities to various levels and sectors and conduct on-site inspections of implementation; inspect mobilization and allocation plans for personnel, materials, and equipment for dike protection, flood and storm prevention, and rescue operations in each area; review and determine specific quantities and types of equipment and materials currently available for flood and storm prevention and rescue operations to supplement and ensure sufficient and necessary quality that can be mobilized promptly when natural disasters, accidents, and incidents occur.

For areas suffering from drought, direct efforts to mitigate consequences and prevent forest fires, protect forests, and provide timely relief and famine assistance; simultaneously develop flood and storm prevention and rescue plans to proactively respond.

- When floods, storms, or natural disasters occur, localities must proactively respond and mitigate consequences according to the principle of "four local elements"; direct levels and sectors to establish and guide specific procedures for resource mobilization, distribution, and other tasks to proactively respond, provide relief, and mitigate consequences when natural disasters and accidents occur; proactively utilize local budget reserves in accordance with the State Budget Law. Damage statistics must be verified before reporting to higher authorities.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities bears full and direct responsibility before the Prime Minister for mobilizing local resources as prescribed to effectively carry out flood and storm prevention, rescue operations, and mitigating consequences of natural disasters and accidents within their jurisdiction.

4. The Central Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and urging the implementation of flood and storm prevention work by ministries, sectors, and localities; directing, managing, and handling situations promptly and effectively in response to flood, storm, and natural disaster scenarios; compiling and reporting the situation to the Prime Minister in a timely manner.

5. The National Search and Rescue Committee reviews and inspects specific search and rescue plans and strategies to ensure they are practical for proactive prevention and response in all situations; reviews and re-establishes essential equipment and materials for search and rescue operations to adjust and supplement promptly to meet requirements and assigned tasks; directs and organizes close coordination with the Central Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee, the Ministry of Defense, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to implement search and rescue tasks and resolve aftermath of accidents promptly and effectively.

6. The Ministry of National Defense prepares plans for deploying forces and equipment, ready to closely cooperate with search and rescue forces of relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to participate in dike and dam rescue, flood and storm prevention and rescue operations; respond and handle emergency situations involving floods, storms, incidents, and natural disasters promptly.

7. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directs localities to focus on completing dike repair work to prepare infrastructure for flood resistance; review and direct localities to decisively relocate residents from dangerous landslide-prone areas, riverbanks, coastal zones, and areas at risk of flash floods and landslides; inspect and formulate plans to ensure safety of water reservoirs and flood and storm prevention infrastructure; concurrently perform well in forest protection and fire prevention, and post-drought recovery work, ensuring timeliness and effectiveness.

8. The Ministry of Transport shall have plans to ensure smooth traffic during the rainy and stormy season; coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries to strengthen state management over vessels operating on rivers and at sea; inspect and urge the implementation of regulations concerning management, inspection, registration of ships and necessary equipment to ensure safety for people and vessels; resolutely suspend operations of vessels that do not meet safety requirements and lack protective equipment for people when operating on rivers and at sea.

9. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to promptly complete the draft Decree of the Government on the Storm and Flood Regulation (amended) to be submitted to the Government for issuance before the 2005 rainy and stormy season; direct the National Hydro-meteorological Center to closely monitor flood, storm, and natural disaster situations to provide early forecasts and warnings and be responsible for timely notification to relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and the public to proactively prevent and combat natural disasters effectively.

Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, and other mass media organizations need to increase broadcasting time for information about flood, storm, and natural disaster situations and preventive measures taken by ministries, sectors, and localities.

In 2005, weather and climate conditions exhibited many unusual characteristics. Mitigating losses caused by floods, storms, and natural disasters is one of the key factors ensuring the successful completion of economic and social development plans.

Ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are required to fulfill their assigned functions and responsibilities to direct effective flood and storm prevention and rescue operations to minimize damage caused by natural disasters. At the same time, they must prepare forces, means, and materials necessary to 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 the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Commission.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Directive.

The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention, the National Search and Rescue Commission are responsible for monitoring and inspecting the implementation by ministries, sectors, and localities of flood and storm prevention and rescue operations and regularly reporting to the Prime Minister.