Population protection and Crisis management division
Population protection and crisis management division performs specific state administration tasks and coordinates the fulfillment of tasks and measures concerning population protection, crisis management, crisis and contingency planning and economical measures for states of crisis. The division drafts strategies and cooperates with other authorities on implementing assignments stated therein. It also participates on preparation of the Ministry of the Interior crisis plan and completing objectives related to defense planning relevant to the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic.
- Population protection in the Czech Republic
- Crisis management in the Czech Republic
Population protection in the Czech Republic
Protection of lives, health and property, together with sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protection of democratic principles of the Czech Republic, are principal liabilities, and also the function of the state. Population protection has been defined by the Law No. 239/2000 on Integrated Rescue System and on amendment to some laws, as amended, as provision of civil protection tasks, namely warning, evacuation, sheltering and emergency survival of citizens, and other provisions, ensuring protection of their life, health and property.
GENERAL CAUTION warning signal
The Czech Republic has introduced the single warning signal General Caution to alert the population in the threat or occurrence of emergency. The signal is a warble siren tone for 140 seconds and can be heard three times at approximately three-minute intervals. The acoustic tone siren is followed by emergency information, provided by mass media.
Evacuation
Evacuation is pre-planned from endangered places to places, where alternate accommodation and boarding for evacuees is provided, as well as housing of animals and storing of materials. In evacuation, citizens are recommended to carry their evacuative luggage.
Sheltering
For sheltering people from contamination by radioactive dust, effects of penetrating radiation and toxic effects of hazardous substances, natural protective characteristics of structures, adjusted against penetration of such materials are used. While state of emergency or war is proclaimed, using of improvised and permanent shelters is planned.
Emergency survival
Measures of emergency survival are pre-planned as taking up measures after evacuation of citizens from endangered places. They include mainly emergency accommodation, emergency supplies of basic food and drinking water, emergency basic services and organisation of humanitarian assistance.
Conception of population protection
This is an essential conceptual material approved by the Czech Government for medium perspective (until 2020) and long-term perspective (until 2030) planning of population protection measures.
Crisis management in the Czech Republic
Crisis management is, in terms of security policy of the Czech Republic, conceived as a set of managerial activities of crisis management (Government, ministries and other central administrative authorities, the Czech National Bank, regional authorities and other bodies with activities in the regions, the authorities of municipalities with extended powers, and authorities of the municipalities) focused on analysis and evaluation of security risks and planning, organizing, implementing and controlling activities undertaken in preparation for crisis situations and their solutions, or protection of critical infrastructure. In the Czech Republic we distinguish crisis to those that are related or unrelated to the provision of Defence of the Czech Republic against external attack.
The scope and power of emergency management, rights and obligations of legal and natural persons preparing for crisis situations and their solutions are governed by the Act No. 240/2000 Coll., on Crisis Management and amending certain acts (Crisis Act), as amended.
Emergency preparedness is ensured in the organisation (creation of organisational structures, emergency and contingency planning), technical (skills of technique and other material) and competence (education and training).
Solving the crisis situation is particularly associated with the implementation of measures to protect disabled people and their emergency survival, measures to ensure functioning of public administration and critical infrastructure, etc.
On the basis of the Crisis Act a state of danger can be declared by the regional governor as an urgent measure, when lives, health, property, and environment are threatened, provided the intensity does not reach the danger of considerable extent, and it is not possible to avert threats by normal activities of administrative authorities, regional and municipal bodies, IRS bodies or entities of critical infrastructure.
In crisis of considerable extent the Government can declare a state of emergency for the whole country or a part of. When threatened the sovereignty or territorial integrity or its democratic principles, the Parliament of the Czech Republic may declare the state of war, if the Czech Republic is attacked or if it is necessary to fulfil international obligations concerning common defence against aggression.
Crisis management activities are carried out in connection with protection of critical infrastructure. As critical infrastructure is understood an element of critical infrastructure, or a system of elements of critical infrastructure, threat or failure of which would have a serious impact on national security, securing basic necessaries of life, human health or economy of the state.
Elements of critical infrastructure means a structure, facility, means, or public infrastructure, determined by cross-cutting and sectorial criteria in the fields of energy, water supply, food and agriculture, health, transport, communication and information systems, financial market and currency, emergency services and public administration.