Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Chapter 5 : Municipal Disaster Management

Part 3 : Powers and duties of municipalities and municipal entities

53. Disaster management plans for municipal areas

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(1)Each municipality must—
(a)conduct a disaster risk assessment for its municipal area;
(b)identify and map risks, areas, ecosystems, communities and households that are exposed or vulnerable to physical and human-induced threats;
(c)prepare a disaster management plan setting out—
(i)the way in which the concept and principles of disaster management are to be applied in its municipal area, including expected climate change impacts and risks for the municipality;
(ii)its role and responsibilities in terms of the national, provincial or municipal disaster management framework;
(iii)its role and responsibilities regarding emergency response and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation;
(iv)its capacity to fulfil its role and responsibilities;
(v)particulars of its disaster management strategies;
(vi)contingency strategies and emergency procedures in the event of a disaster, including measures to finance these strategies; and
(vii)specific measures taken to address the needs of women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities during the disaster management process;
(d)co-ordinate and align the implementation of its plan with those of other organs of state and institutional role-players;
(e)provide measures and indicate how it will invest in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, including ecosystem and community-based adaptation approaches;
(f)develop early warning mechanisms and procedures for risks identified in the municipal area;
(g)regularly review and update its plan; and
(h)through appropriate mechanisms, processes and procedures established in terms of Chapter 4 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000), consult the local community on the preparation or amendment of its plan.

[Subsection (1) substituted by section 21 of Act No. 16 of 2015]

 

(2)A disaster management plan for a municipal area must—
(a)form an integral part of the municipality’s integrated development plan;
(b)anticipate the types of disaster that are likely to occur in the municipal area and their possible effects;
(c)place emphasis on measures that reduce the vulnerability of disaster-prone areas, communities and households;
(d)seek to develop a system of incentives that will promote disaster management in the municipality;
(e)identify the areas, communities or households at risk;
(f)take into account indigenous knowledge relating to disaster management;
(g)promote disaster management research;
(h)identify and address weaknesses in capacity to deal with possible disasters;
(i)provide for appropriate prevention and mitigation strategies:
(j)facilitate maximum emergency preparedness; and
(k)contain contingency plans and emergency procedures in the event of a disaster, providing for—
(i)the allocation of responsibilities to the various role-players and co-ordination in the carrying out of those responsibilities;
(ii)prompt disaster response and relief;
(iii)the procurement of essential goods and services;
(iv)the establishment of strategic communication links;
(v)the dissemination of information; and
(vi)other matters that may be prescribed.

 

(3)A district municipality and the local municipalities within the area of the district municipality must prepare their disaster management plans after consulting each other.

 

(4)A municipality must submit a copy of its disaster management plan and of any amendment to the plan, to the National Centre, the disaster management centre of the relevant province, and, if it is a district municipality or a local municipality, to every municipal disaster management centre within the area of the district municipality concerned.