ARMENIAI.

Natural hazards in Armenia

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Earthquake (every year), flood (almost every year), strong wind (once acouple of year), snowstorm (almost every year), frost (almost every year),hail (once a couple of year).
1.2 Recent major disasters
Date/s ofOccurrence

Disaster TypeNo. of People
Affected2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004

Flood
Rock avalancheLandslide
Strong wind
Snowstorm
Heavy rain
FrostHailstorm
Earthquake

Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available

No. ofPeople
Killed000010000

Cost ofDamage inUSD
2,156,112
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
16,233,445
7,658,556
Not available•In March 2005 Earthquake near Vardenis city in Gegharkunik
region caused minor structural damage and local population
concern.
Armenian National Survey for Seismic Protection (Armenian NSSP)
Reconnaissance Team comprising the seismologists, structuralengineers, geologists and psychologists rushed to the epicentral zone
for immediate response and provided relevant investigation.
Recommendations have been made and presented to theGovernment to undertake the appropriate measures for recovery
and retrofitting the damaged structures.

•In April 2004 the temperature has strikingly dropped by 15 degrees
and caused severe frost damaging crops in vast agriculture area. To
help the farmers to cover losses the Government provided funding of
the amount of USD16M. for recovery and rehabilitation.

•In spring 2004 the severe hailstorms caused substantial damage tocrops and lifelines. The Government has responded providing theappropriate funding (USD7.6M) for recovery and rehabilitation.

Source: ADRC country profile

1II.

Disaster Management System

1. Administrative system

Conventional long form:
Conventional short form:
Government type:
Capital:Administrative divisions:

Republic of Armenia
Armenia
RepublicYerevan
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz);
Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik',
Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

The Government of the Republic of Armenia recognizes that theintegration of mutual efforts aimed at minimizing natural hazards andecological disasters is one of the most effective mechanisms of ensuring
sustainable development will attach special importance to the joint
preparation and implementation of regional programs on reduction of
hazards and disasters bearing a cross border nature through highlighting
their both.
The main directions of pursuing the national policy in the area of disaster
reduction are made through close cooperation with internationalorganizations, foreign states, including the states of the South Caucasus
and neighboring countries, involvement of national and local governancebodies, NGOs and the population in developing and implementing
initiatives to minimize emergency risks.
2. Legal system, legal framework
Following the World Summit on Environment and Development (Rio deJaneiro, 1992) the Republic of Armenia has signed and ratified about twotens of Conventions and associated Protocols, including Kyoto Protocol ongreenhouse effect.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia has passed more than
two tens of Laws in the field of disaster reduction, including the following
basic Laws:
1. Law on the Protection of the Population in Emergency
2. Law on Seismic Protection
3. Law on Fire Security
4. Law on Safe Utilization of Atomic energy for Peaceful Purposes
5. Law on Environmental Education and Public AwarenessSource: ADRC country profile2

6. Law on Task Force and Status of a Rescuer
7. Principals of Environmental Legislation
Alongside the Government of the Republic of Armenia has adopted about
40 Regulations directed at developing and introducing targeted activities
on risk reduction. From those the noteworthy are: Regulation N 429 of 10June 1999 “About the complex Program on Seismic Risk Reduction in theterritory of Armenia” and Regulation N 796 of 31 December 1999 “Aboutthe Program for 2000-2004 on the reduction of emergency situations andthe liquidation of consequences thereof and the protection of thepopulation”.
At present the Republic of Armenia is being involved in realization of theNational Program on Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between
the Republic of Armenia and the European Union and state-members ofthe Union. The program among other important directions incorporates
also the problems of harmonization of legislation in the field of disaster
reduction.
3. Structure of disaster management
In the Republic of Armenia the structure on multi-coordination andcooperation in the field of disaster reduction presented by the system of
the protection of the population in emergencies. These systems
incorporate the national and local governance bodies and establish
authorities of the bodies covered by those systems in disaster reduction.
4. Priority on disaster risk management
Viewing the disaster risk reduction as a priority policy the Government of
the Republic of Armenia has assigned political commitment throughcreating and up-dating an adequate national legislative base in particular,
for the community based capacity building for training and education ofdifferent sections of population.
III.

Disaster management plan

(1) Sort of plan
The State Complex Program on Seismic Risk Reduction in the Territoryof Armenia”.
(2) Legal Basis

Source: ADRC country profile3

Regulation of the Government of the Republic of Armenia N 429 of 10
June 1999 followed by the “Law on Seismic Protection“ of the Republicof Armenia.
(3) Date of creation
Created in 1999, revised and updated in 2002
(4) Content
The seismic risk in Armenia has reached to it's highest level during thewhole historical period. The general objective of the program is seismic
risk reduction in the territory of Armenia with the commitment toensure the sustainable development and population safety. The
Program includes the solution of three major problems:
1. Seismic hazard assessment
2. Seismic risk assessment
3. Seismic risk reduction.
The basic principles of seismic risk reduction strategy in the territory of
Armenia are as follows:• preparedness priority over the recovery,• priority of all the elements of seismic risk reduction in the field ofpreparedness,• synergical efforts of ministries, departments, public organizations ,• simultaneous realization of sub-programs in all the directions ofseismic risk reduction,• internationalization of the programinternational geoscience’s centers

byinvolving

thebest• involving of foreign donors and investors for funding of the program,• multistage (short, medium and long term) nature of the program.
The program will be implemented by the joint efforts of ministries,departments and public organizations in the period of time up to 30 year.
The Armenian NSSP is responsible for the implementation of theprogram. The implementation of the program will raise the seismic
awareness and preparedness of population. It will result in thesignificant reduction of next seismic hazard and risk and will support
the sustainable societal and economic development of the country.
IV.

Annual budget for disaster management

The measures on disaster risk reduction are being carried out through thenational budget according to the relevant Laws. The national budget

Source: ADRC country profile4

includes the Reserve Fund to be used in case of emergency. The
functioning of Armenian NSSP and Emergency Management
Administration is being funded for the amount of USD7M for 2006 fiscalyear.
V.

Progress and Situation of HFA (Hyogo Framework for Action)•Priority area 1Developmentofinstitutional
basisforDRR
strategy
implementation.
Upgrade of the National Legislation, harmonization and bringing it
in line with internationally accepted principles.

•Priority area 2
Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early
warning.
Development of earthquake early warning system for Yerevan city.

•Priority area 3
Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety
and resilience.
In-depth development of Geographical Information System forseismic risk reduction.

•Priority area 4
Reduce the underlying risk factors.
Seismic isolation is provided to reduce earthquake disaster risk inZvartnots International Airport in the city of Yerevan.

•Priority area 5
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.
National Campaign on Public Awareness and Preparedness atnational and municipal levels.

VI.

Projects on Disaster Management

Project 1(1) Sectional Topic: Objectives and Targeted Actions
Highlight main objectives of seismic protection and its management
Drawing up the system of measures for seismic safety of the country(2) Actors
Armenian National Survey for Seismic Protection
Armenian Association of Seismology and Physics of the EarthSource: ADRC country profile5(3) Partners
Open Society Institute, Eurasia Foundation(4) Title
Seismic Protection and its Development (textbook)(5) Contents
Key issues discussed in the textbook include:
General information on earthquakes and seismicity
Seismic hazard and risk assessment
Seismic risk reduction
Earthquake disaster and its emergency stage
Rehabilitation and reconstruction management in the disaster area(6) Means of implementation
Publication(7) Target year
2004(8) Target area/place
Republic of Armenia(9) Expected outcome
Raising earthquake disaster awareness and preparedness through thedissemination among potential stake-holders.
Project 2(1) Sectional Topic: Objectives and Targeted Actions
Seismic hazard assessment for earthquake disaster risk reduction
Installation of shaking measuring devices(2) Actors
Armenian National Survey for Seismic Protection
Armenian Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth(3) Partner
Civilian Research and Development Foundation(4) Title
Development of Armenian national strong motion network(5) Contents
Background and State of the Art
Creation of attenuation model
Selection of sites for strong ground motion instruments installation
Seismic hazard monitoring at selected sites

Source: ADRC country profile6(6) Means of implementation
Organizational and technical means(7) Target year
2004(8) Target area/place
Residential buildings in Yerevan city(9) Expected outcome
Ground shaking instrumental definition for buildings vulnerability(risk) reduction
Project 3(1) Sectional Topic: Objectives and Targeted Actions
Seismic hazard estimation, creation of database(2) Actors
Armenian National Survey for Seismic Protection
Aspinall & Associates LLC(3) Partner
Enconet Consulting GmbH
(4) Title
Seismic Hazard Evaluation at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant(ANPP)(5) Contents
Earthquake catalogues and focal mechanisms
Seismotectonics synthesis and seismic source models
Attenuation relationships and definition of the site seismic category(6) Means of implementation
Organizational and technical means(7) Target year2006(8) Target area/place
ANPP(9) Expected outcome
Re-evaluation of seismic hazard at ANPP for disaster risk assessment
VII.

ADRC Counterpart
National Survey for Seismic Protection Agency
Ministry of Territorial Administration,Davidashen – Massive 4, P.O. 375054, Yerevan, Armenia

Source: ADRC country profile

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