As heavy rainfall continues to batter south China, the authorities are making heroic efforts to fight the flood and protect people's lives and property.

Each year, the flood season is a test for governments at all levels. From early monitoring and warning, patrol, emergency rescue to reconstruction, each link in flood prevention and disaster relief is crucial. China endures many types of natural disasters occurring widely with high frequency, which calls for an optimized allocation of emergency resources in synergy.

In the past, responding to disasters, relevant departments would send their teams without any coordinated plan. However, the establishment of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) in 2018 integrated 11 departments, which has played a significant role in improving modernized disaster response.

Under the principle of solidarity and high efficiency, a joint command mechanism has been established, It includes early warning response, information sharing and coordinated activities and is being improved. Faced with natural disasters, emergency management departments should shoulder their responsibilities, making full use of their advantages.

For instance, during the treatment of the barrier lake of Jinsha River in southwest China in October 2018, a joint group sent by MEM, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Water Resources and National Energy Administration carried out rescue at the frontline with professionalism. With the support of the local government, the danger was controlled without any casualties.

Today, China has developed a reliable government emergency system of 200,000 rescue members, which can work with social forces. There are over 700,000 grassroots staff collecting, sending, analyzing and evaluating disaster information.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published People's Daily on June 15)    

(Print Edition Title: Emergency Response)