First off, I think the suggestion process is a better process to start a discussion in the forums (except for minor disagreements, like if you want to change the tagging method or create, remove, or merge tags).
To reiterate, I realize that the situation I’m aware of is not unique to Korea (i.e. I’m sure other countries are similar).
Anyway, let’s talk about the Korean case.
In the event of a small disaster, such as a fire, firefighters and equipment are dispatched. In this case, the firefighting organization becomes the crisis response department.
However, in the event of a major disaster, a “Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters”(CDSCHQ) is set up within the government.
Normally, it is an agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, with the Minister of the Interior and Safety as the head of the center, but in the case of a disaster that occurs overseas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will exercise the authority of the head of the center, and in the case of a radiological disaster, the chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission, who is the head of the Central Radiological Disaster Response Center.
Naturally, depending on who the head is, the number of people available and the scope of authority differs.
If the disaster is severe enough, the Prime Minister, who is delegated the authority by the President, may take over instead of the Minister.
The head of CDSCHQ may command and control police personnel, based on government organization, personnel, and equipment, and fire department organization, personnel, and equipment, and may call upon military personnel, equipment, and supplies as circumstances warrant. (Depending on the situation, they also have access to medical areas and social facilities.)
I understand the reason for this is that a single, small disaster is handled by the appropriate disaster response department, but a large or mega-disaster is difficult to handle that way.
What I don’t quite understand is how to tag facilities for such a vast and complex department.
Fire facilities can be tagged by default, but should we also tag police facilities, hospital facilities, social facilities, or military facilities that might be mobilized to respond to a disaster?
- You don’t have to look at it, but if you need official government guidance in English rather than my English, this is a good place to start.