DECISION No.581-TTg of July 25, 1997 promulgating the Regulation on Flood and Storm Warning.

The flood and storm warning includes the regular monitoring, gathering and processing of information, the issuance of announcements and forecasts on storms, tropical low atmospheric pressure and floods and the prompt transmission of such information to the different agencies so that the latter direct different levels, branches, economic organizations, social organizations and the entire people to well serve the flood and storm prevention and combat as well as the reduction of natural calamities.

The General Department of Hydro-Meteorology shall exercise the function of State management over the work of flood and storm warning. The branches, economic organizations, social organizations and individuals inside and outside the country that want to engage in the work of flood and storm warning within the territory and territorial water of Vietnam must obtain permission from the General Department of Hydro-Meteorology.

Levels, branches and mass media agencies, while transmitting information on storms, tropical low atmospheric pressure and floods provided by the General Department of Hydro-Meteorology, shall have to strictly comply with the contents of such information.

The Regulation also includes detailed provisions on the regime of flood and storm warning; and responsibilities of the ministries and branches for the work of flood and storm warning.- (Summary)