Czech Republic National Platform
History
At the beginning of 2013, the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic picked up the baton of Czech National Committee for Natural Disaster Reduction (founded in 2005) and fulfils now the role of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Czech Republic.
Structure
The role of the main focal point is fulfilled by the Department of Security and Crisis Management at the Ministry of the Environment, and the second focal point is served by the Department of International Relations at the Ministry of the Environment. The national platform for DRR in the Czech Republic includes experts from the following institutions:
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of the Interior
- Fire Rescue Service (Ministry of Interior)
- Czech Hydrometeorological Institute
- Czech National Committee for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction
- Union of Towns and Municipalities
- VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and the Czech Academy of Sciences
- Czech Geological Survey
The Ministry of the Environment is coordinating all activities in the field of fulfilling the tasks of the Hyogo Framework. The Ministry of the Interior is a lead coordinating institution for disaster risk reduction.
An important part of the Czech system, which ensures the practical application of the activities and objectives of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the Hyogo Framework of Action for the period 2005 - 2015 is the Integrated Rescue System (IRS). IRS is an effective system of links, rules, cooperation and coordination of rescue and security forces, state and local governments, individuals and legal entities in the joint conduct of rescue and relief work and preparing for emergencies caused by natural disasters.
The basic bodies of the IRS are the Fire Rescue Service, Emergency Medical Services Providers, and the Police of the Czech Republic. Other bodies include:
- Designated powers and resources of the Armed Forces
- Public Health Authorities
- Emergency, Expert and Technical Services
- Civil Protection Facilities
- Non-profit organizations
- Associations of citizens, which can be used for rescue and liquidation operations
Fire Rescue Service is the main coordinator of the IRS. The Operations and Information Centre of the IRS mobilizes and deploys the necessary forces and resources of IRS in specific locations.
The Ministry of the Environment as well as different representatives and experts from the abovementioned institutions are attending joint meetings of the National Committee for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction, which take place two to three times a year, and are discussing the main issues and activities related to the field of DRR and prevention.
Budget
The budget mainly depends on State contribution, while some projects are covered by the European Union (EU).
Mandate
The main aim of the national platform is to support all actions leading to reducing human, social and economic losses caused by natural disasters. The following goal is to integrate DRR into decision-making processes at all levels.
Activities
The National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Czech Republic focuses mainly on:
- Supporting a risk-aware and resilient society that is able to prevent disasters and mitigate their impact
- Strengthening legislation on issues related to DRR
- Improving crisis management and international cooperation within the frame of DRR
- Improving coordination between government, non-government and private sector stakeholders in the field of natural hazards and disasters.