The Netherlands National Handbook on Decision-Making in Crisis Situations Theme Note Ministry with primary responsibility or biggest role to play 10. Emergency social security measures Dealing with benefit payments, exceptional medical expenses, etc. Social Affairs and Employment 11. Monitoring/addressing environmental and landscape damage Monitoring leaks of hazardous substances in the environment; monitoring threats to public health due to disasterrelated damage, etc. Infrastructure and the Environment; Health, Welfare and Sport; Education, Culture and Science 12. Waste/sewage treatment A large number of affected individuals means more waste; waste and sewage treatment plants may fail, creating environmental and health problems Infrastructure and the Environment 13. Continuity of public administration, the judiciary, police etc. Guaranteeing the operation of public services; continuity of democratic legal order Security and Justice, Interior and Kingdom Relations 14. Continuity of transport (including vital infrastructure) Important for maintaining communication with the outside world; goods transport (emergency aid and resumption of economic activities); public transport; private transport Infrastructure and the Environment 15. Continuity of economic life/ market forces Limit economic damage through rapid resumption of Economic Affairs (Chamber of Commerce); economic activities; business continuity; IT fall back Finance; Social Affairs and Employment arrangements; emergency credit; tax measures. Benefit desk (one desk for multidisciplinary back office) 16. Secure cultural heritage Evacuation, restoration and temporary storage of cultural heritage Education, Culture and Science 17. Damage assessment Estimate the scale and cost of the disaster Security and Justice; Economic Affairs (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) 18. Reconstruction Post-disaster reconstruction, e.g. by means of blueprints of public-private partnerships; spatial planning (reconstruction or innovation) Public-private partnerships 19. Payment of damages and financial arrangements Introduce damages scheme; coordinate settlement of damages; pay financial compensation Security and Justice; Finance 20. Register temporary/ semi-perma- Provide shelter for displaced livestock nent shelter for displaced livestock, animal health and animal welfare 21. Continuity of emergency services Restoration of emergency services (back-up facilities); evacu- Security and Justice; Health, Welfare and ation of aid workers’ families; leave arrangements for aid Sport; Social Affairs and Employment workers; logistical support; staff rotation; psychosocial counselling for aid workers 22. Public information Establish mass communication channels (including an information and advice centre). Communication plans to reach target groups Security and Justice (NCC, NCTC); Health, Welfare and Sport 23. Funerals, bereavement and commemoration Organisation of national commemoration for major national and international disasters and support for local communities Security and Justice in cooperation with Interior and Kingdom Relations and Health, Welfare and Sport (and Foreign Affairs in the cases of a disaster abroad) 24. Criminal and other investigations and liability Public Prosecution Service, police and businesses in disaster area Security and Justice (Public Prosecution Service), line ministries 25. Official oversight (by central government and other authorities) Inspectorate, region (e.g. issuing permits) Inspectorates 26. Investigation/evaluation Investigation of the causes of the disaster and evaluation of the performance of the emergency services Central government inspectorates, Dutch Safety Board Economic Affairs 37