Disasters in Bhutan

Bhutan has a statutory, decentralized disaster-management system under the Disaster Management Act of Bhutan 2013 and the Disaster Management Rules and Regulation 2014. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the highest decision-making body. The Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management (DLGDM) provides the secretariat and coordinates national implementation. At the district-administration level (Dzongkhag), Disaster Management Committees work under the district governor (Dzongdag). The block administration (Gewog), municipal administration (Thromde), and, where applicable, subdistrict administration (Dungkhag), form local subcommittees. Earlier documents may still use the name Department of Disaster Management (DDM). The risk profile is strongly shaped by the Himalayan setting. Earthquakes, landslides, flash floods, river floods and glacial lake outburst floods particularly threaten communities near major river basins, lower-lying settlements, hydropower plants and other critical facilities. Forest fires occur especially during dry winter and other dry seasons; building fires are also part of the national hazard profile. The relative importance of individual risks depends on the Dzongkhag, river basin, settlement location and infrastructure. Preparedness is organized through a national plan and through Disaster Management and Contingency Plans at the level of authorities, Dzongkhag, Gewog and Thromde. Named authorities and the participating private sector must prepare their own plans. These plans are updated at least once a year and reviewed at least every five years. They should address, among other things, hazard and vulnerability maps, exercises, training for communities and search-and-rescue teams, equipment, simulation exercises and assessments of social vulnerability. Disaster preparedness should also be incorporated into development plans and construction or infrastructure projects. The Disaster Management Information System supports the information situation; the Incident Command System assigns responsibilities during an operation. The National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) operates hydrometeorological warnings and flood and glacial-lake-outburst warning systems. Automatic stations transmit measurements approximately every 15 minutes to the control room and central database. The National Weather and Flood Warning Centre and the Flood Monitoring and Control Room operate around the clock. Specific procedures exist for certain areas, including the Ammochhu and Puna-Wangdue river basins and Paro and Thimphu. Warnings and advisories are distributed through audio and audiovisual media and other available channels. However, coverage, assembly points and safe routes depend on the local plan or the relevant operational instruction. For an event that can be managed locally in a Gewog or Thromde, the affected local administration activates its Incident Management Team, submits a First Incident Report to the DDMO or Dzongkhag Disaster Management Committee, and may order an evacuation. If the event affects an entire or part of a Dzongkhag or several Dzongkhag, the committee activates the Dzongkhag Emergency Operations Centre; the National Emergency Operations Centre oversees coordination. The first report should be submitted within 24 hours, and a preliminary damage and needs assessment within 72 hours. If an event exceeds national capacity, the NDMA assumes national coordination. An Incident Commander leads the overall operation or the incident site; search-and-rescue teams may be deployed nationally and locally. During an evacuation, the responsible Gewog or Thromde administration or the Dzongkhag committee contacts threatened areas. After an order, the authorities move people to safe areas or temporary shelters. There is no publicly confirmed, nationally uniform list of all assembly points and shelters; local disaster-management planning or the instruction of the Emergency Operations Centre determines the route, destination and timing. A lawful evacuation or operational order should be followed in practice. Emergency assistance includes food, shelter and essential relief supplies under the minimum standards of the DLGDM or DDM. Access generally runs through the Gewog or Thromde to the Dzongkhag committee and onward to the DLGDM, DDM or NDMA. A damage and needs assessment determines what support is required. National or international assistance depends on existing national capacity and the identified level of need; a general individual entitlement to a specific cash payment or accommodation is not categorically confirmed. Recovery follows a detailed damage assessment, in which insurance companies may also participate. Rehabilitation, reconstruction, resilient construction methods and the Build Back Better principle are intended to reduce future damage. Vulnerable construction methods should be avoided. Funding and support depend on assessment, approval and the affected institutions; there is no automatic or uniform payment. Schools, health facilities, administrative buildings, telecommunications, roads and hydropower plants are central resilience fields. Emergency communications, Emergency Operations Centres and critical disaster-management facilities maintain operational capacity. Different procurement procedures may apply to urgent relief and response procurement; local expenses may be reimbursed through the DDM and the Ministry of Finance. Authorities, local administrations and designated private companies have duties relating to risk reduction and planning. A Dzongdag or disaster-management committee may request personnel or material resources for operations and assistance from authorities, civil-society organizations, private companies or individuals. The Royal Bhutan Police, volunteer corps (Desuups), the monastic body (Dratshang), nongovernmental organizations, private companies and communities may be involved as response or relief resources. For acute emergencies, 110 is used for fire, 112 for medical assistance and 999 for the Disaster and Crisis Helpline Unit; no uniform chargeable disaster-management tariff is specified.