The Legal Regime of Emergency Situations
The legal regime of emergencies begins with classification: by the nature of its origin, an incident or emergency is divided into natural and technological (caused by human factor) types. Taking into account the consequences, the response forces and material resources needed, an emergency may be of local or national significance. This classification determines who manages the response and what resources are engaged.
An emergency is local where its management is possible with the forces of one subject of the national system or of neighbouring municipalities. It is national where management by those forces is impossible, where its influence may spread over most of the country's territory, where it threatens the national treasury, cultural heritage or rare species, where it causes significant damage to the economy or environment, where its elimination is prolonged, or where international assistance is needed. The Government assigns the national category on the minister's submission.
Management of the Response
The management of the response to an emergency is carried out at strategic (political), operational and tactical levels. At the strategic level, the response to a national emergency is managed by the Prime Minister or a person authorised by him, supported with recommendations by the National Security Council. The division into levels ensures fast and accountable distribution of decisions.
Duties of Citizens and Business
A natural or legal person who receives information about an incident or emergency is obliged to immediately send a notification via the unified telephone number 112 and, where possible, to conduct primary response with its own forces. A notification received on the unified number is transmitted to the corresponding responding body of the national system.
During the response, mandatory operations may be imposed on natural and legal persons — but only where the forces and resources of the system's subjects are insufficient. Expenses incurred and damage sustained in performing duties within mandatory operations are reimbursed to persons under the procedure established by legislation. This guarantee balances public interest and private property.