The State Council General Office issued a guideline on a comprehensive national disaster prevention and alleviation plan (2016-2020).

According to the plan, annual economic losses caused by natural disasters should account for no more than 1.3 percent of the country’s GDP; annual death rate caused by disasters for every million people should be controlled within 1.3 percent.

A relief goods storage system with five levels (central government, provinces, municipalities, counties and villages) should be established to ensure the basic support of people in stricken areas is effectively provided within the 12 hours after natural disasters occur.

Another 5,000 demonstration communities of national disaster alleviation will be established. Every community should have at least one disaster information assistant.

The plan also listed some major tasks.

Related laws and regulation system should be improved. Monitoring, forecasting, alarms, disaster prevention, emergency preparation, urgent rescue, transition and allocation, medical care, and reconstruction should be enhanced.

The construction of ground monitoring stations will be accelerated. Early disaster recognition should also be improved.

Disaster relief policy should be improved; relief standards for different areas should be laid out. Management regulations for relief goods storage, operation mode, storage mode and reconstruction work system need to be improved.

Construction of key projects in fields such as flood control and drought relief, earthquake prevention and disaster reduction should be strengthened.

The development of disaster monitoring, alarm and risk prevention technologies should be promoted to fully play their supportive role. Basic theory research and major technology research and development should be strengthened.

The role of insurance and other market mechanism should be enhanced, while improving the financial supportive system and ability of market entities to participate in disaster management.

Cooperation among government, private power and the press should be improved for the publicity work. Disaster prevention and alleviation education will be included in the national education system. Related international cooperation will be promoted.

The plan also deployed several key projects: natural disaster general evaluation platform; civil space infrastructure and disaster alleviation system; national natural disaster relief goods storage system; emergency shelter construction, and related knowledge dissemination.