Regulation on Emergency Responses to Destructive Earthquakes (2011Revision)

Regulation on Emergency Responses to Destructive Earthquakes (2011Revision) Regulation on Emergency Responses to Destructive Earthquakes (Issued by Order No. 588 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on February 11, 1995; amended in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Abolishing and Amending Some Administration Regulations by the Order No. 588 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on January 8, 2011) Chapter I General Provisions Article 1 This Regulation is developed for purposes of strengthening the management of the activities of emergency responses to destructive earthquakes, reducing the losses from earthquake disasters, protecting the state-owned property and the citizens' personal and property safety, and maintaining the social order. Article 2 Activities of emergency responses to destructive earthquakes within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall be carried out under this Regulation. Article 3 The work of emergency responses to earthquakes shall be conducted under the principles of leadership by government, uniform management, and taken charge by level and by departments. Article 4 Governments at all levels shall strengthen the publicity and education of emergency responses to earthquakes, and enhance the public awareness of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction. Article 5 All organizations and individuals shall have the obligation to participate in activities of emergency responses to earthquakes. The Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Chinese People's Armed Police Force are important forces in the work of emergency responses to earthquakes. Chapter II Emergency Institutions Article 6 The department under the State Council in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction shall direct and supervise the work of emergency responses to earthquakes nationwide. Relevant departments under the State Council shall, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, be specifically responsible for their work of emergency responses to earthquakes. Article 7 After the occurrence of a severely destructive earthquake which causes tremendous losses, the State Council shall set up a headquarters for earthquake resistance and disaster relief, whose working body shall be the department under the State Council in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction. Relevant departments under the State Council shall set up their institutions for emergency responses to earthquakes. Article 8 The departments under the people's governments at or above the county level in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction shall direct and supervise the work of emergency responses to earthquakes within their respective administrative regions. After the occurrence of a destructive earthquake, the relevant people's governments at or above the county level shall set up a headquarters for earthquake resistance and disaster relief to exercise centralized leadership over the work of emergency responses to earthquakes within their respective administrative regions. The working body of the headquarters shall be the department under the people's government at the same level in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction or any other department designated by the people's government at the same level. If it is otherwise provided for by the State Council, such provisions shall prevail. Chapter III Emergency Plans Article 9 The national emergency plans for destructive earthquakes shall be developed by the department under the State Council in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction in conjunction with relevant departments under the State Council and reported to the State Council for approval. Article 10 Relevant departments under the State Council shall, according to the national emergency plans for destructive earthquakes, develop their emergency plans for destructive earthquakes, and report to the department under the State Council in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction for recordation. Article 11 In accordance with the prediction of earthquake disasters, departments under the people's governments at or above the county level in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction in areas that are likely to be hit by destructive earthquakes shall, in conjunction with relevant departments at the same level and relevant entities and with reference to the national emergency plans for destructive earthquakes, develop emergency plans of their respective administrative regions for destructive earthquakes, and submit them to people's governments at the same level for approval; and emergency plans for destructive earthquakes of provinces, autonomous regions, and cities with a population more than 1 million shall also be submitted to the department under the State Council in charge of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction for recordation. Article 12 Departments and local governments shall, based on their actual circumstances, develop emergency plans for destructive earthquakes, and ensure that the plans are practical and feasible. Article 13 An emergency plan for destructive earthquakes shall mainly include: (1) the composition and responsibilities of the emergency institution; (2) emergency communication support; (3) preparation for rescue personnel, funds, and materials; (4) preparation for disaster evaluation; and (5) emergency action plan. Article 14 Departments and local governments that develop emergency plans for destructive earthquakes shall, in light of the changes in the seismic situation and the problems found in the implementation of the plans, amend and supplement the emergency plans for destructive earthquakes developed thereby; and adjustments to major issues, if any, shall be submitted to the original approval authorities for approval. Chapter IV Emergency Responses to Imminent Ear......