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Crisis management ideas come of age

By Ding Yuanzhu (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-20 07:28

Since Sichuan province was rocked by an 8-magnitude quake on Monday, the central government and localities, including those in the disaster areas, have taken a series of measures to rescue people. The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held two special meetings to direct the rescue work.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA), armed police, firemen, doctors, nurses, scientists and volunteers are flooding into the areas hit by the quake. Resources are also being rushed there from across the country.

People's lives outweigh everything else. The quick response by the State as well as other sectors of the society was key to protecting and saving lives in the natural disaster, and it also marked an increasing maturity of the country in setting up a modern contingency scheme to manage emergencies.

The fast response has won unanimous praise from the global community. The countermeasures were considered effective and efficient.

Risk management in an emergency involves three aspects. First, to prevent risks from happening and reduce losses. Second, to take measures to guard against all possible elements that might exacerbate risks. Third, to contain risks effectively afterward.

Relief work in an earthquake is risk management which requires decision-makers to contain risks as much as possible and as early as possible.

What the State has so far done has been successful and deserves applause both at home and abroad.

The central government has done a good job in disclosing exact, authoritative information. The transparent and timely information has played an important role in preventing widespread panic and maintaining stable social order.

Soon after the earthquake occurred, an official public announcement was made on TV, radio, and the Internet. At the same time, the public was also informed that the government had put into effect the emergency plan for natural disasters.

President Hu Jintao instantly made an appeal to safeguard people's lives. Premier Wen Jiabao flew to Sichuan to oversee rescue work. The PLA and the armed police were immediately sent to Sichuan as more rescue teams were being mobilized.

When information about a natural disaster, rescue work and casualties is disclosed in a timely, open and transparent manner, people can stay assured, and avoid panic. Therefore, the State won the understanding and support of the people.

International experience shows that transparency of information is one of the most useful means to stop rumors, calm the public and prevent the emergency from developing into a crisis.

A government with a mature system for emergency management would channel the latest information to the public through reliable media at the early stage of a natural disaster. The faster and the more exact the public gets the information they need, the more trust they put into the government, and the more stable the society remains.

The Chinese government has also mobilized all resources at hand to coordinate the rescue work, which has boosted the efficiency of saving the needy.

The troops were sent via different routes to ensure they reach Wenchuan county, the epicenter, and other towns and villages out of contact after the quake, as early as possible despite the hostile weather, the destroyed roads and the continuous aftershocks.

The professional rescue teams with rich experiences, the medical teams and the firemen followed the troops into the disaster zone, all of which are parts of an integrated rescue plan.

The emergency disaster relief headquarters, established within hours of the quake, acted as the top commander of rescue efforts. The high efficiency in making decisions and carrying out the orders shows the State's techniques and skills in coordinating among regions in emergency. The measures were firm, proper and effective to handle the crisis and recover normal social order.

The key to crisis management is to establish a special leading department to handle it. With special talents, the department is able to analyze the emergency at the earliest time and propose practical action plans.

The orders and measures sent from the emergency disaster relief headquarters over the past few days suggest that an emergency management scheme has been well established in our government, which covers organization and decision-making, information gathering and processing, pooling and transporting materials and gathering and training of human resources.

The State leaders have also shown their individual talent by standing firmly with the people in the affected area. No only have their directions about the rescue work saved numerous lives, their amiable encouragement and sincere condolences have also inspired the people across the country to get united to overcome the huge difficulties.

When the whole nation is determined to fight the disaster, it would surely become a strong power to support the bereaved and those trying their best to save more lives from the tragedy.

The tremor could move the mountains and ruin our homes, but it will never destroy our minds and will. Under the wise leadership and cool-headed countermeasures, we are sure to keep the losses at the minimum level.

The author is a researcher with the Academy of Macroeconomic Research affiliated with the National Development and Reform Commission

(China Daily 05/20/2008 page10)