Regulation on the Relief of Natural Disasters (2019 Revision)

Regulation on the Relief of Natural Disasters (2019 Revision) Regulation on the Relief of Natural Disasters (Order No. 577 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; amended in accordance with the Decision of the State Council to Amend Certain Administrative Regulations on March 2, 2019) Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 This Regulation is formulated to regulate the relief of natural disasters and safeguard the basic livelihood of victims. Article 2 The relief of natural disasters shall be carried out by observing the principles of people orientation, leadership of the government, level-by-level management, social mutual aid and the self-rescue by victims themselves. Article 3 The administrative leaders of the people's governments at all levels shall be responsible for the relief of natural disasters. The National Disaster Reduction Commission shall be responsible for organizing and leading the natural disaster relief work of the whole nation and coordinate the major natural disaster relief activities. The emergency management department under the State Council shall be responsible for the natural disaster relief work of the whole nation and undertake the specific work of the National Disaster Reduction Commission. The relevant departments under the State Council shall conduct the work related to the nationwide natural disaster relief within their respective scopes of functions and duties. The local people's governments at or above the county level or the emergency coordination bodies for natural disaster relief (hereinafter referred to as the “emergency coordination bodies”) of the people's governments shall organize and coordinate the natural disaster relief work in their respective administrative regions. The emergency management departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the natural disaster relief work within their respective administrative regions. Other relevant departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall conduct the work related to the relief of natural disasters in their respective administrative regions. Article 4 The people's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the natural disaster relief work into their national economic and social development planning, establish mechanisms to guarantee the funds and materials needed for the relief of natural disasters, and include the funds allocated for and the expenditures on the relief of natural disasters into their fiscal budgets. Article 5 Villagers' committees, neighborhood committees, the Red Cross, charities, public foundations and other social organizations shall assist the people's government in the relief of natural disasters. The state encourages and leads entities and individuals to make donations for the relief of natural disasters, provide voluntary services and participate in other such activities. Article 6 The people's governments at all levels shall strengthen the publicity of and education about the prevention and reduction of disasters and improve people's awareness to prevent disasters and avoid dangers and their abilities to help themselves and each other. Villagers' committees, neighborhood committees, enterprises and public institutions shall, in light of the requirements of the local people's governments and their own actual situations, publicize and popularize emergency knowledge about the prevention and reduction of disasters. Article 7 Entities and individuals that make outstanding contributions to the relief of natural disasters shall be commended and rewarded under the relevant state provisions. Chapter II Preparatory Work for the Relief of Disasters Article 8 The local people's governments at or above the county level and other relevant departments thereof shall make their own emergency plans for the relief of natural disasters according to the relevant laws, regulations and rules, the emergency plans of the superior people's governments and other relevant departments thereof as well as the natural disaster risk investigation results in their respective administrative regions. An emergency plan for the relief of natural disasters shall cover: 1. An emergency organization and command system for the relief of natural disasters and the duties thereof; 2. An emergency team for the relief of natural disasters; 3. Emergency funds, materials and facilities for the relief of natural disasters; 4. The early warning and forecasting of natural disasters and the reporting and processing of information about the situation of natural disasters; 5. The emergency response levels for the relief of natural disasters and the measures to be taken under each level; and 6. Measures for post-disaster emergency assistance and the rehabilitation or reconstruction of residents' houses. Article 9 The people's governments at or above the county level shall set up an emergency command and technical support system for the relief of natural disasters and provide necessary transport and communication facilities for the natural disaster relief work. Article 10 The state shall set up a material reserve system for the relief of natural disasters, and the emergency management department of the State Council shall, in conjunction with the finance department, development and reform department, industry and information technology department, and grain and material reserves department of the State Council, make a national natural disaster relief material reserve plan and a reserve pool plan, and organize the implementation thereof. The grain and material reserves department of the State Council shall develop a central relief material reserve pool plan in conjunction with relevant departments, and organize the implementation thereof. The people's governments at or above the level of cities divided into districts and the county-level people's governments at places where natural disasters tend to occur or occur frequently shall, under the principles of reasonable arrangements and moderate scale, set up natural disaster relief material reserve pools in light of the characteristics of natural disasters and the population and distribution of residents. Article 11 The local people's governments at or above the county level shall, based on the population and distribution of local residents, transform parks, squares, stadiums and other public utilities into emergency r......