Emergency situations

An emergency situation is a state that arises upon declaration by the competent authority when the risks, threats, or resulting consequences to the population, environment, and material and cultural assets are of such magnitude and intensity that their occurrence or aftermath cannot be prevented or mitigated by regular operations of the competent authorities and services. Therefore, special measures, forces, and resources, along with an enhanced operational regime, are required to alleviate and address the situation.

Disaster Risk Assessment identifies the type, nature, and origin of specific disaster risks, the degree of vulnerability, factors that cause or increase the potential danger, consequences that may affect human life and health, the environment, material and cultural assets, public services, and economic activities, as well as other assumptions relevant to the continuation of regular life, economic, and social activities.

The Disaster Risk Assessment is conducted and adopted by the Republic of Serbia, autonomous provinces, local government units, entities of particular importance for protection and rescue, except for associations, clubs, and unions; business entities, health institutions excluding pharmacies; preschools, schools, and faculties for all facilities where children reside or where educational activities take place; social welfare institutions for facilities where users reside.

Business entities and other legal entities with organizational units whose capacities, scope, and significance for the economy of the Republic of Serbia in fields such as energy, telecommunications, mining, and transportation must also conduct a Disaster Risk Assessment for these organizational units.

The Disaster Risk Assessment is also prepared and adopted by legal entities that manage business, commercial, sports, hospitality, accommodation, and recreational facilities with a capacity of more than 100 persons, or if the facilities are intended for children under 14 years old, regardless of capacity.

The Disaster Risk Assessment is periodically updated in accordance with new needs and circumstances, and fully revised every three years, or earlier if significant changes in circumstances occur, or if new risks emerge or existing risks increase or decrease.

The primary goal of the Disaster Risk Assessment is to recognize, define, and analyze all issues related to the current situation, hazards, consequences, risk management, and the community’s response to natural disasters and other emergencies. This involves:

• Describing and assessing the protected values.
• Identifying risks and causes that may lead to an undesirable event.
• Assessing the consequences that may arise from the danger.
• Determining the appropriate organizations and preventive measures necessary to prepare the entity for the unwanted event.
• Evaluating the needs and capabilities in securing human and material resources.

The Disaster Risk Reduction Plan outlines specific preventive, organizational, technical, financial, regulatory, supervisory, educational, and other measures and activities that competent state authorities and other entities must undertake in the future, based on the assessment of individual risks, in order to reduce disaster risks and mitigate their consequences. Disaster risk reduction plans are developed based on proposed treatments for the assessed risks in the corresponding disaster risk assessment.

Disaster risk reduction plans are adopted for the territory of the Republic of Serbia (National Disaster Risk Reduction Plan), autonomous provinces (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan), and local government units (Local Disaster Risk Reduction Plan). These plans are adopted for a period of three years.

The Protection and Rescue Plan outlines measures and activities aimed at preventing and minimizing the consequences of disasters, detailing the forces and resources of entities within the disaster risk reduction system and emergency management. It ensures their organized and coordinated engagement and action during emergencies to protect and rescue people, material and cultural assets, and secure basic living conditions.

The plan is developed based on a risk assessment and is regularly updated to reflect changes in the risk evaluation. It is fully revised and adopted every three years, or sooner if circumstances significantly change, in accordance with the disaster risk assessment.

The Protection and Rescue Plan must include the following components:

• Early warning and preparedness
• Mobilization and activation
• Protection and rescue according to types of hazards
• Civil protection measures
• Utilization of forces and entities involved in protection and rescue operations

The competent authority of the local government unit where the SEVESO higher-tier facility is located is required to develop and adopt an external emergency response plan for major accidents. This plan should include measures to be taken outside the facility and must be completed within a timeframe not exceeding two years from the receipt of the necessary information provided by the operator of the SEVESO facility, in accordance with environmental protection regulations.

The external emergency response plan for major accidents is developed with the following objectives:

• Limiting and controlling incidents in such a way that the effects are minimized, and damage to human health, the environment, and property is reduced.
• Disseminating essential information to the public and relevant competent authorities or bodies in the area where the SEVESO higher-tier facility is located.
• Communicating necessary information to the public and relevant competent authorities or bodies in the area where the SEVESO higher-tier facility is located.
• Ensuring the return to the previous state and environmental cleanup after a major accident.