Welcome to Armenia!

Disaster Management System
in Armenia
Presentation by Mr.Sayiyan Tigran
the Head of Task Force of National
Survey for Seismic Protection
Under the Government of theRepublic of Armenia

1General Information AboutArmenia!

Introduction-1• Geographical situation:
Location: North-east of the
Armenian Upland between theCaucasus and Asia
Minor(Southwestern Asia).
Geographical coordinates: 40 00
Northern latitude and 45 00
Eastern longitude.
Area: 29800 sq.km.
Population: 3336100 million
Mountains:
Highest mountain is Aragats –4095m.
High mountains: Agdagakh-morethan 3800 m.
Kapydgykh-more than 3900m.

• Water basin and climate:
Water area: 1400 sq.km.
Largest river: Araks.
Another rivers:the Arpa, theVorotan, the Razdan.
Lakes: Sevana Lich.
Area:1240 sq.m.
Depth: 83 meters.
There is a cascade of hydroelectric
station on the river Razdan;
tunnel with length in48.6kms fromriver Arpa to lake Sevan.
Climate is dry and highcontinental- four seasons areexactly defined.

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Introduction-2
z Culture:

First theatre in Armenia wasfound more than 2000 years
ago
Religion: Armenian Orthodox94%(the first country in theworld to adopt Christianity asa State Religion)
Languages:state- Armenian, oneof the Indo-European
linguistic family, Russian andothers
Population: Armenians-96.5%,
and 3.5%-Russians, Ukrains,
Ezidi-Kurds and others
Literacy: 99% of total populationz Government:

Type - Republic
Administration division:
10 provinces (marzer) and 1 city
(Yerevan is capital)
First Independence: 28 of May in
1918
National Holiday: Indepen-dence
Day ,21 of September in1991(from Soviet Union)
Constitution:adopted bynationwide referendum on 5July 1995
Legal system: civil law system
Main legislative body: ArmenianNational Parliament (131members)

Introduction-3
z Industry:

Electric motors,Machines,Tires,
Silk fabrics,
Microelectronics,
Jewelry,Hosiery,
Software development,
brandyNatural resourses:
Small deposits of gold,copper,molybdenum,
zinc,alumina

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Introduction-4zArmenian import commodities:
Natural gas
Petrolium
Tobacco products
Foodstuffs
z Armenian export commodities:
Diamonds
Machinery
CognacMineral water
Beer
Export partners: Russia-17%, US11%, Belgium-11%, Iran-10%,
Ukrain, Turkey

Agricultural products:
Fruit (grapes)
Vegetables
Livestock
Main plants:
Metsamor Nuclear Power plant;
Nairit factory,Cognac factory,
Cable-line factory in Yerevan
Three warm-electric power stations
in Yerevan, Hrazdan andVanadzor cities and fourteenhydro-electric power stations
Currency: Dram
Currency code: AMD

Natural Disasters,disaster
Management and Countermeasures
Disasters: The territory ofArmenia is located in highseismic activity zone (AlpineHimalayan active belt).
In general disasters are divided into
natural and man-made ones.
Main hazards of disasters forArmenia.
Natural disasters:
Earthquakes-94%.
Mudslides-3.15%.
Landslides-1.2%.
Floods-0.15%.
Man-made disasters:
Transport accidents-1.5%.
Irradiation-0%.

4Latest Disasters in Armeniaz During the last centures the following strong earthquakes

occurred on the territory of Armenia:z Earthquake in Vaick, in 735 (M=6.5).
z Earthquake in Vayots-Dzor, in 906 (M=6.5).
z Earthquake in Garni, in 1679 (M=7.0).
z Earthquake in Spitack in 1988 (M=7.1).

Latest Disasters in Armenia
One of the most destructive earhquakes occurred in Armenia
is the tragic earthquake on 7th of December in 1988 withepicenter in Spitack city (Northern part of Armenia).
The earthquake covered 40% of the territory of Armenia:
25000 people were died,
19000 became invalids,
More than 530000 became homeless.
Spitack earthquake caused great loss to economy,industry, as
well as human resourses and other infrastructures.

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Istablishment of Armenian NSSPz

After the Spitack earthquake thetask of protection of populationof Armenia became an integral
part of the National safety ofcountry.
Requirements for decision thetask were following:z Prompt response to disaster.
z Reduction the consequences ofdisaster.
z Working out the DisasterManagement System forArmenia.
z Setting up the Institution
responsble for Seismic Risk
reduction in Armenia.
z Cooperation between all disaster
related organizations.

The Main Features of Armenian
NSSP
The National Survey for Seismic Protection under theGovernment of the Republic of Armenia was founded on
17th of July in 1991 to implement state policy in field ofseismic risk reduction.
z International framework program of NSSP on the basis ofInternational projects.
z Creation of the modern technical basis adopted toArmenian conditions.
z Subordination to Armenian NSSP of all observation sites
on the territory of Armenia, united in one National Network,
consisting of the 150 stations on 3 levels:a) global international networks (IRIS,GPS, READINESS).

6The Main Features of ArmenianNSSPb) regional network on monitoring of densely populatedareas and Yerevan city.
c) stations on monitoring of crucial objects (Nuclear power
plant, chemical plants, dams, reservoirs and other).
24-hour collection, evaluation and analysis of data.
Using all kinds of connection (from satellite to telephones).
Large National Data Bank and National Earthquake
catalogue including all the seismological,geological andgeophysical information.

Strategies and Basic Goal of Armenian
NSSP
Armenian NSSP was given special governmental status andministerial powers
The President of NSSP is directly subordinated to the PrimeMinister
The basic goal of Armenian NSSP is the Seismic Risk
Reduction in Armenia
Armenian NSSP has developed two Strategic National
Programs:-”Seismic risk reduction inArmenia”-”Seismic risk reduction in Yerevan city”
The Programs,adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia on
the 10th and 7th of July in 1999 are designed for 30 years7Main Functions of Armenian
NSSPzzzzzzzzz

Seismic hazard and risk assessment,
Vulnerability reduction in urban areas,including reinforcement andupgrading of existing buildings and structures,design of new codesand standards,
Public awareness,people education and training,
Early warning and notification,
Partnership establishnent, involving public and privateorganizations,
Risk Management, including Emergency Response and RescueOperations,
Disaster relief and people rehabilitation,
Insurance,
State disaster law and regulations

Seismic Risk Reduction
SystemSeismic risk reduction system on territoryof the Republic of Armenia includes 3subsystems:z Subsystem of preventive measuresz Subsystem of operative measuresz Liquidation of consequences and recovery actions’subsystem

8Subsystem of PreventiveMeasures
1. Subsystem ofpreventive measures
1.1 Lawful Principles

1.9 Planning of Operativemeasures

1.2 Material-Technicaland Financial-Credit
reserves

1.10 Risk Assessment

1.3 Social-Economicand Organization Measures

1.11 Setting up the RescueTeams

1.4 Population Education

1.12 Coordinative andDispatcher Service

1.5 Basical and applied
Scientific investigations

1.13 Planning of Charitable
Assistance

1.6 Monitoring

1.7 Earthquake Engineering

1.8 Engineering andTechnical measures

Operative Measures
Subsystem
2. Operative measuressubsystem
2.1 Warning

2.7 Living-maintenance ofpopulation

2.2 Assessment ofsituation

2.8 Evacuation of population

2.3 Emergency Rescue
works

2.9 Charitable Assistance

2.4 First Medical Assistance

2.10 Protection of
specially-purposed structures

2.5 Special Measures:
Degassing,DesaktivationDesinfection

2.6 Fire-Fighting Measures9Liquidation of Consequences andRecovery Operations Subsystem
Liquidation of consequences
and Recovery operations
Subsystem
3.1.Preliminary investigation
and assessment of consequences

3.8 Construction andRecovery Actions

3.2. Sanitary and Epidemiologicmeasures

3.9 Operative engineering-technicalpreventive actions

3.3 Emergency-recovery actions
on dangerous technical structures

3.10 Works on clearing of debris and roads

3.4 Emergency reinforcement ofbuildings or its demolition

3.11 Recovery actions of communications

3.5 Emergency-recovery works ofgas-mains and gas-storage

3.12 Emergency-recovery actions ofmunicipal economy

3.6 Actions in variou s fields andbranchs

3.13 Works on clearing fromconstructional and living dust

3.7 Social maintenance of
injured population

3.14 Emergency-recovery works ofenergetics system

Seismic Risk Assessment Map for
Yerevan-city
zHigh risk
Moderate risk
No risk practically
Map of distributing of seismic risk
level by sectors with one square km.
area on the territorry of Yerevan city

The following three factors has
been used during seismic risk
assessment for yerevan-city:- Seismic hazard level in Yerevancity,estimated on the series ofseismic events,- Earthquake resistance ofbuildings and structures
estimated according for groundconditions and design types,- Size of population residing inbuildings and structures whichhave different earthquakeresistance.
Analysis of these datas has shownthat about 26 sq.km.(15% oftotal area) of the Yerevan-city
is situated in high seismic risk
zone.

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The New Seismic zonation
Map
0.2g

0.3g
0.4g
0.5g

z The map was compiled in

0.2g

0.2g

0.4g

0.3g

0.5g

0.4g

0.3g 0.2g

Scale M 1:500000
0.4g<a<0.5g
0.3g<a<0.4g

collaboration with Swiss
Seismological Survey
z The Map was submitted to
the Government ofArmenia in 1998 andserves as actual basis forearthquake engineering
realization in the territoryof Armenia

0.2g<a<0.3g
0.1g<a<0.2g

New Methods of Increasing theEarthquake Resistance of Existing
Buildingszzz

The 5-storey building with seismic isolation

Using absorbers of seismic
vibrations in many-storied
frame buildings on the level offloors;an example isconstruction “ Additional
isolated upper floor”-(AIUF).
Using the seismic isolation as
in existing as well as in newly
designed masonry buildings on
the level of foundations“Laminated rubber bearings”(LRB).
Both these methods havealready used in Vanadzor-cityearthquake-stricken area andallow to increase seismic
resistance of buildings without
eviction of dwellers.

11Main International Organizations
Participation in Armenia
z UNCTAD-Unated Nations Conference on Trade andDevelopmentz UNESCO-United Nations Educational,Scientific andCultural Organizationz UNIDO-United Stations Industrial Development
Organizationz UNDP-Unated Nations Development Programz WHO-World Health Organizationz WMO-World Meteriological Organizationz OCHA-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairsz ARCS-Armenian Red Cross Societyz SRCS-Swiss Red Cross SocietyInternational Agreements andPrograms

Nowadays the Armenian NSSP takes part in the followinginternational agreements and programs:• JapanMemorandum between the Republic of Armenia and the Government ofJapan on cooperation in the field of seismic protection on 25th ofDecember 2001
-Iran
Memorandum of mutual understanding between the NSSP RA and theGeophysical Institute of Tehran University
Memorandum between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic ofIran on cooperation in the field of seismic protection• Russiaz П Agreement on Scientific- Technical Cooperation with the Institute of
the Earth's Physics of the Russian AS.

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International Agreements andProgramszz

SwitzerlandП Collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology(ETH, Zurich) and operating at the same Institute the Swiss
Scismological Service (SSS).SMACH accelcrographs
P Collaboration with the Swiss Disaster Relief (SDR)USA
П Agreement with the US Geological Survey (USGS) on "Creation ofthe Station of Global Seismographic Network" (IRIS)П Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) about cooperation in the field of space geodesyП Agreement with the Massachusetts Technological Institute (МГГ)
on "Study of Regional Deformations in the Territory of Armenia"

Armenian NSSP Structureand Details of WorkNSSP President

NSSP Council

Expert Council

NSSP President Office

Scientific –Technical Council

NSSP Vice-President

NSSP Prime Vice- President

NSSP Vice-President

Financial and Economical
Administration

Seismic Risk Assessment andReduction Administration

Responsible Objects Seismic
Protection Administration

National Network
Administration

Earthquake Information Subdivision

Buildings and Structures
Seismic Protection Adm.

Informational System
Administration

Task Force Administration

Population Seismic Protection
Administration

International Affairs
Administration

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Structure of the Regional
Departments of the Armenian
NSSP
NSSP President

NSSP Northern Department

NSSP Central Department

NSSP Southern Department

The Central Department of NSSP(center is Yerevan city)
works in the region of Yerevan,Armavir,Aragatsotn,Ararat,Guegharkounik and Vayots-Dzor.
The Southern Department of NSSP (center is Kapan city)
works in the region of Syunik.
The Northern Department (center is Giumri city) works in theregions of Shirak,Tashir,Tavysh.

The Structure of the Southern
Department of the Armenian National
Survey for Seismic Protection
Scientific-technical Council

The Head of Southern
Department

Seismic Risk Assessment
Complex Division
Buildings’ Seismic ResistanceDivision
Data Collection and Measuring Systems
Operation Subdivision Department

Personnal
Department
Informationcollecting anddata
operative
processing
sectorSpecial Rescue Team

Territorial Observation Network
Administration Division

Geophysical,
geological andhydro-dynamic
sectorSeismology
and seismic
risk
assessment
sectorHydrogeochemical andanalyticallaboratory

Building Materials and Constructions
Testing Laboratory

Population Training
SubdivisionInternational Affairs
Division

Finance
Department

Deputy Headcomplex station
N1

Logistics
Department
CommonDepartmentcomplex station
N2
complex station
N4

Law Advicer

complex station
N3
StationN5

Task Force Subdivision

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The Activity of Task Force-1
z The lessons,learned from Spitak earthquake.

showed the necessity of prompt response to disasterand protection of population from strong
earthquakes.As a result the fully equipped Task
Force was organized under the Armenian NSSP.
z The main goal of Task Force is to reduce thepossible consequences of disaster by conducting
operative actions in case of emergency.

The Activity of Task Force-2
z
1.

2.

3.

Types of emergency:
The are two types ofemergency situations in theCaucasus region:
The earthquake on theterritory of Armenia andadjacent areas caused damage
and various victims
The threat of destructive
earthquakes in Armenia andadjacent areas

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The Functions and Duties ofHead of the Task ForcezFunctions:1.

Formation of the Task Force and Managing
Working out of plans of Task Force before and after Emergency
3. Defining the number of personnel of Task Force, as well as thenecessary tasks which depends on the type of emergency

2.
3.

4.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Preparing and conduction of training exercises
Duties:
Notification the personnel of Task Force after receiving ofinformation about emergency
Informing to Head of the Department about gathering all personnelof Task ForceAll teams of Task Force must be operated by plans drafted
beforehand in disaster area
Sending the periodical information about the results ofimplementation of these plans to Expert Council

The Structure of Task ForceHead of Task Force

Professional TeamSpecial Rescue
Team

Logistics Team

Communication
Providing TeamTechnical Team

Medical Team

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The Structure of theEmergency Management
The Government of the Republic ofArmenia

Republican Organs ofState Management

Enterprises,
Establishments,
Organizations

The Emergency Management
Administration under theGovernment of theRepublic of Armenia

Public Organizations

The Regional Organs ofState Management

Local Self-GoverningOrgans

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