Decision No. 206/TTg on storm reporting systems

Pursuant to …;

OF THE PRIME MINISTER NO. 206/TTG ON JUNE 28
YEAR 1980 REGULATING THE SYSTEM FOR REPORTING STORMS

Storms are extremely dangerous meteorological phenomena that can cause significant losses of life and property.

Timely and accurate forecasting, prompt and correct reporting enable timely preparation for storm prevention and mitigation of damage. The General Bureau of Meteorology and Hydrology must organize effective monitoring and forecasting of storms, and closely coordinate with relevant sectors and localities to mobilize all available means to report storm information promptly.

This Decision replaces Circular No. 64-TTg dated June 11, 1962 on the system for reporting storms and the tasks of relevant sectors and localities. Accompanying this Decision are six detailed tables and guidelines (from Table I to Table VI).

A. SYSTEM FOR FORECASTING LOW PRESSURE AREAS, TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS, AND STORMS

The General Bureau of Meteorology and Hydrology is responsible for continuously monitoring weather conditions, identifying tropical depressions and storms that may affect our country's weather, and issuing official bulletins on tropical depressions and storms.

I. DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS AND STORMS

An area of low pressure generated over tropical seas where the strongest wind reaches from Force 6 to Force 7 (39 to 61 kilometers per hour) is called a tropical depression; when the wind strength reaches Force 8 or higher (62 kilometers per hour or more), it is called a storm; winds reaching Force 12 or higher (118 kilometers per hour or more) are considered severe storms.

ABoth tropical depressions and storms pose hazards; the degree of hazard depends on the strength of the wind, sea wave conditions, water levels, and rainfall (see Hazard Level of Strong Winds in Appendix Table VI).

II. DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN TROPICAL DEPRESSION BULLETINS AND TYPES OF STORM BULLETINS

When a tropical depression or storm forms in the East Sea or moves from the West Pacific into the East Sea, the General Bureau of Meteorology and Hydrology will issue special forecast bulletins for state agencies and the public to prepare for prevention and response. These bulletins are referred to as storm bulletins.

1. Storm Bulletins:

Based on the specific position and development situation of the storm, storm bulletins are categorized into five types.

a. Tracking Bulletin: When the storm is east of the 120°E meridian but has the potential to move into the East Sea, a tracking bulletin is issued (twice daily, morning and evening). This bulletin is only provided to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Central Party Committee Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Central Flood and Storm Control Command, and not widely disseminated.

b. Remote Bulletin: When the center of the storm is west of the 120°E meridian, more than 1000 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country, and has the potential to move towards our country; or when the center of the storm is between 500 and 1000 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country but does not yet have the potential to move towards the mainland, a remote bulletin is issued.

c. Near Bulletin: When the center of the storm is west of the 117°E meridian, between 500 and 1000 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country, and has the potential to move towards the mainland; or when the center of the storm is between 300 and 500 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country but does not yet have the potential to move towards the mainland within a few days, a near bulletin is issued.

d. Urgent Bulletin: When the center of the storm is west of the 115° meridian, more than 300 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country, and has the potential to move towards the mainland within a few days; or when the center of the storm is less than 300 kilometers from the nearest point on the mainland coast of our country, an urgent bulletin is issued.

e. Final Bulletin on the Storm: When the storm dissipates or no longer poses a threat to our country, a final bulletin on the storm is issued.

2. Tropical Depression Bulletins:

For tropical depression bulletins, unlike storm bulletins, there is only one type, which is the Tropical Depression Bulletin.

III. CONTENT OF STORM BULLETINS

Each storm bulletin must include:

1. Type of storm bulletin (as per Section II), storm number (in sequence according to the storm number issued by the General Bureau of Meteorology and Hydrology on the Voice of Vietnam Radio during the annual storm season);

2. Time, date, month;

3. Characteristics of the storm including:

- The location of the storm center recorded by coordinates, longitude and latitude (with decimal points to the tenth degree). When the storm is far away and it is not possible to accurately determine the location of the storm center, it should be indicated in a square, each side being one or two degrees of longitude and latitude. In urgent storm bulletins, in addition to the location of the storm center by coordinates, the distance (in kilometers) from the storm center to the nearest point on the mainland coast potentially directly affected by the storm should also be noted;

- The strongest wind speed near the storm center recorded in wind force (with additional explanation in kilometers per hour). The radius of the area with wind speeds above Force 6; sea wave conditions caused by the storm.

4. Forecast of the storm including the following elements:

- Direction and speed of movement of the storm,

- Intensity of the storm

In urgent storm bulletins, depending on the complexity of the storm's development and the specific forecast, the time and area of storm landfall warning, or direct impact, expected rainfall and strong winds, and guidance on using signals and flares for stations and ships should be included.

B. METHODS OF REPORTING AND TASKS OF
RELEVANT AUTHORITIES

I. GENERAL BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY

Throughout the period when there are tropical depressions or storms in the East Sea, the General Bureau of Meteorology and Hydrology is responsible for issuing tropical depression or storm bulletins to serve:

- State agencies, military units, and the public (general bulletins);

- Ships at sea (specialized bulletins according to international conventions).

1. For tropical depression bulletins and remote storm bulletins.

a. Reporting by telephone to the agencies listed in Table II and providing bulletins to the 20 agencies listed in Table III (two bulletins daily, morning and afternoon).

b. Depending on the level of necessity, reporting by telephone or telegraph to some or all of the provincial meteorological and hydrological stations listed in Part A of Table IV to provide information to People's Committees and local agencies.

c. Provide storm or tropical depression forecast bulletins to the Radio and Television Commission (four bulletins each day at morning, noon, afternoon, and evening) for broadcasting on the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station and television.

d. Provide storm or tropical depression forecast bulletins to the General Post Office (twice daily in the morning and afternoon) so that the General Post Office can organize coastal radio stations to broadcast storm reports to serve ships and boats operating at sea.

2. For imminent storm information.

Implement the provisions specified in points a, b, c, and d as recorded in point I (as for tropical depression and distant storm information).

3. For urgent storm information.

a. Report the information by telephone to the agencies listed in Table II and provide bulletins to twenty agencies listed in Table III (four bulletins each day at morning, noon, afternoon, and evening). Simultaneously, directly report the storm situation to the Central Flood and Storm Control Command to assist the Government in directing flood and storm prevention.

b. Depending on the development of the storm and the area directly threatened, report the information by telephone or telegraph to some or all provincial meteorological and hydrological stations listed in Part A and B of Table IV to enable these stations to promptly broadcast the information to the People's Committees, Provincial Flood and Storm Control Commands, and local agencies.

c. Provide storm forecast bulletins to the Vietnam Radio and Television Commission as stated in point 1(c). Additionally, if necessary, provide supplementary bulletins to promptly broadcast the actual development of the storm, helping people to timely prevent and combat the storm.

d. Provide storm forecast bulletins to the General Post Office (from two to four times daily) so that the General Post Office can organize coastal radio stations to broadcast storm reports to serve ships and boats operating at sea.

đ. After receiving urgent storm information, provincial meteorological and hydrological stations must carefully study the bulletin content, closely and continuously monitor storm bulletins, and report to the People's Committee, Provincial Flood and Storm Control Command to promptly direct preventive measures, send storm information to the radio station for broadcasting, and provide storm information to local agencies upon request.

II. VIETNAMESE RADIO AND TELEVISION COMMISSION

The Vietnamese Radio and Television Commission is responsible for directing the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station and the Central Television Station to fulfill the task of broadcasting tropical depression or storm bulletins.

1. The Voice of Vietnam Radio Station, when receiving tropical depression, distant storm, or imminent storm information, broadcasts four times daily at 4:35 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM, and 10:30 PM. When receiving urgent storm information, it broadcasts from four to eight times daily (adding four additional broadcasts between the scheduled broadcasts). In case of necessity, it may increase the number of broadcasts according to the requirements of the Central Flood and Storm Control Command. If there is no new bulletin, it may repeat the old bulletin but must obtain prior approval from the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department.

Each bulletin must be read at least twice during each broadcast session.

2. The Central Radio and Television Station, upon receiving tropical depression or storm information provided by the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department, must broadcast it in the nearest television program of the day.

3. Local radio stations are responsible for broadcasting storm or tropical depression information provided by provincial meteorological and hydrological stations when their areas are threatened by storms or tropical depressions. The number of broadcasts per day depends on the development of the storm, ranging from two to four times or more, as determined by the local People's Committee and Flood and Storm Control Command.

III. POSTAL AUTHORITIES

1. The General Post Office is responsible for:

- Strictly directing the communication system at all levels to prioritize the transmission of storm or tropical depression bulletins from the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department to the agencies listed in Table IV, organizing coastal radio stations to broadcast storm or tropical depression information to ships and boats operating at sea to ensure timely prevention and avoidance.

- Directing and urging provincial and city postal authorities to promptly and accurately transmit meteorological observation data serving storm reporting from localities to the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department.

2. Provincial and city postal authorities and basic post offices are responsible for:

- Prioritizing the transmission of storm or tropical depression bulletins to provincial, city, town, county, district, and town agencies; prioritizing the transmission of meteorological observation data serving storm reporting from localities to the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department promptly and accurately.

- When there is urgent storm information or tropical depression approaching the coast of our country, postal authorities in affected areas must arrange personnel and means of communication including wired, wireless, and postal services to ensure absolute transmission of storm information from central to grassroots levels, as well as prompt and accurate transmission of meteorological observation data serving storm reporting from local meteorological and hydrological stations to the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department.

- Proactively coordinating with sectors having specialized communication systems to transmit storm bulletins, meteorological observation data, and directives on urgent flood and storm prevention work when necessary.

IV. NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY AUTHORITIES

1. The Ministry of National Defense Telecommunications Command, the Ministry of Interior Security Protection Bureau: When there is tropical depression approaching the mainland coast of our country, or urgent storm information, immediately report the information to military and police units in areas threatened by tropical depression or storm to coordinate with localities in timely deployment of forces for flood and storm prevention.

2. The Naval Command and the Border Guard Command: When receiving information about a tropical depression approaching the coast of our country or urgent typhoon information, they must immediately notify naval units, border guard units, and organize firing signal flares at designated locations to inform fishing vessels operating in areas potentially threatened by tropical depressions or typhoons to take preventive measures and assist the people to evacuate if necessary.

V. MARINE ORGANIZATIONS

1. The Marine Department shall be responsible for:

- Guiding the Marine Departments and Offices to coordinate with local military, police, and other relevant sectors to identify locations for storm warning stations and signal flares in areas concentrated with fishermen;

- Announcing tropical depression and typhoon information to Marine Departments and Offices and fishing vessels operating offshore to prepare accordingly.

2. Marine Departments, Offices, and Stations, upon receiving information about a tropical depression near our territorial waters or urgent typhoon information, must promptly transmit such information to fishing fleets, enterprises, research and production facilities, and seafood warehouses along the coastal areas to prevent and mitigate losses in human lives and property; simultaneously, they have the responsibility to coordinate with local authorities to establish storm warning stations and signal flares in their locality if deemed necessary, supervise and monitor the issuance of typhoon warnings through signals and flares placed locally, and direct rescue operations for affected fishermen (if any).

VI. COASTAL TRANSPORTATION GENERAL DEPARTMENT
(BELONGING TO THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT)

- Upon receiving typhoon or tropical depression information, it is responsible for promptly notifying vessels under its jurisdiction and organizing emergency response...

VII. PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES AND FLOOD AND STORM CONTROL DIRECTORATES AT ALL LEVELS
- In places where flood and storm control directorates are established, those directorates assist People's Committees in announcing tropical depression and typhoon information to state agencies and the public (tropical depression and typhoon reports provided by local meteorological and hydrological stations) and assist People's Committees in monitoring and directing flood and typhoon prevention efforts in their respective regions.

1. AT - In places where flood and storm control directorates are not established, the aforementioned tasks are undertaken by the People's Committees. AT The transmission of tropical depression or typhoon information from provinces and cities down to communes and production bases is decided and assigned by the People's Committees or flood and storm control directorates at provincial, city, district, and town levels to relevant agencies for implementation. Information transmission must be accurate, timely, and specifically directed to avoid unnecessary typhoon warnings for areas not threatened by typhoons or transmitting information that does not match the actual situation of tropical depressions or typhoons, which could hinder production activities.

People's Committees and flood and storm control directorates are responsible for managing and directly directing local radio stations and other information centers to ensure rapid and timely typhoon and tropical depression reporting services.

2. Upon receiving information about a tropical depression still far from the coast or distant typhoon information without specific warning zones, provincial and municipal People's Committees and flood and storm control directorates only need to inform local agencies about the situation for monitoring and planning preventive measures without immediately informing the public. At the same time, they should organize permanent day-and-night monitoring teams to record typhoon information on the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station to be ready to implement emergency prevention and response measures when urgent information is received. Besides regular monitoring, it is necessary to thoroughly check communication lines from the province or city down to the grassroots level to ensure uninterrupted communication even during heavy rain and strong winds, facilitating smooth flood and typhoon prevention and response directives.

3. Upon receiving information about a tropical depression entering our territorial waters or urgent typhoon information, People's Committees and flood and storm control directorates at all levels in affected areas must strictly comply with orders and directives from higher-level flood and storm control directorates. Based on the level of danger indicated in the report or directive from the higher-level flood and storm control directorate, they must quickly mobilize means of communication to inform local agencies, enterprises, and production facilities about the typhoon to effectively carry out prevention and response work.

Commune, town, ward People's Committees and production facilities, upon receiving information about a tropical depression or urgent typhoon information threatening their area, must use all available means of communication to promptly inform the public, cadres, and employees, and urgently organize prevention and response measures.

The transmission of typhoon and tropical depression information must accurately reflect the spirit outlined in the report, mobilizing resources and means of prevention and response according to the level of danger and duration of impact, avoiding excessive mobilization that may lead to waste. After the typhoon makes landfall, efforts must be made to quickly address aftermaths, stabilize livelihoods, restore production, and work.

VIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

During periods of tropical depression or typhoon information, relevant agencies and sectors must assign personnel to monitor, especially during rest hours, holidays, and festivals. Upon receiving urgent typhoon information or information about a tropical depression approaching or about to approach the coast of our country, the on-duty personnel must immediately inform the head of the agency or the authorized person.

This decision on typhoon reporting mainly applies to mainland territories within the national territory. For sea islands and territorial seas of our country, when threatened by typhoons or tropical depressions, the Meteorological and Hydrological General Department is responsible for reporting to the agencies listed in Table II and the Ministry of National Defense for guidance, and simultaneously informing meteorological stations on these islands (if any) to alert agencies and residents on the islands to prepare for prevention and response.

This Decision on typhoon reporting system mainly applies to mainland areas within the national territory. As for sea islands and territorial waters of the country, when threatened by typhoons or tropical depressions, the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting shall report to the agencies listed in Table II and the Ministry of National Defence for guidance, while simultaneously informing the meteorological stations on those sea islands (if any) to notify the agencies and people on the islands to prepare for prevention and response.

The relevant industries and localities specified with responsibilities in this Decision shall be responsible for disseminating to all cadres and staff within their respective industries and localities so that they fully understand the content, nature, and importance of the provisions set forth in this Decision and strictly comply with it. Any agency, unit, or individual violating this Decision shall bear legal responsibility.

Unit of measurement: Percentage (%).
REGULATIONS ON BROADCAST TIMES

FOR LOW PRESSURE AND STORM WARNINGS

A. Broadcast Times for Morse Code Messages on the VBT Station of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

(Additional broadcasts will be announced when necessary).

B. Radio Broadcast Times of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

C. Radio Broadcast Times of the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station

Note:

- The broadcast times for storm warnings by the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station may vary by season.

- Ports, radio stations, coastal radio stations, ships, the Information and Communication Department (Ministry of National Defense), and other facilities capable of receiving Morse code signals should monitor all three parts A, B, and C.

- Weather stations, hydrological stations, marine stations, fishery cooperatives, vessels operating at sea, etc., should monitor parts B and C.

- Agencies and people with means to receive information should monitor part C.

- The frequency of the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station's broadcasts may change by season; changes will be announced on the station.

TABLE II
LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING STORM REPORTS DIRECTLY FROM THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY BY TELEPHONE

TABLE III
LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING STORM REPORTS FROM THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AND HYDROLOGY

TABLE IV

REGULATIONS ON ADDRESSES OF ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH THE POSTAL SERVICE WILL FORWARD STORM OR LOW PRESSURE WARNINGS (URGENT PRIORITY, NO DELAY)
PART A (COASTAL PROVINCES AND CITIES)

Postal offices receiving storm reports from

PART B (PROVINCES AND CITIES DEEPLY LOCATED IN THE MAINLAND)

Note:

When there is a typhoon, the use of electricity according to Table IV in Part A or B does not necessarily have to be provided for all addresses listed in the table but may only be provided for some addresses based on the level of necessity for each locality, following specific instructions from the General Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

TABLE V
SIGNALS AND FIREWORKS SYSTEM FOR STRONG WIND WARNING
(NORTHEAST MONSOON WIND, TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE, TYPHOON)

(For coastal signal stations and fireworks and vessels operating at sea)
vessels operating at sea)

Fire nine red fireworks, three shots each time, with intervals of 2 to 3 minutes between each set.

Note to Table V:

1. When strong wind is imminent (caused by northeast monsoon, tropical low pressure, or typhoon), the use of signals and fireworks as directed by the General Department of Hydrology and Meteorology will be announced via telegrams and broadcasts (monsoon... typhoon) on the Voice of Vietnam Radio Station.

2. Vessels can use flags instead of circular and triangular signals. With the following conventions:

- Signal number 1 is replaced by a blue swallowtail flag, at least 1 meter long.

- Signal number 2 is replaced by two swallowtail flags, one blue and one red.
TABLE VI

(Annexed to Decision No. 206-TTg dated June 28, 1980 of the Prime Minister).