Disaster Risk Management Act (No. 11 of 2021).

The purpose of this Act is to establish a coherent legal, institutional and regulatory framework for: (i) planning and management of disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities before a disaster occurs; (ii) coordinating emergency response during a disaster; and (iii) facilitating disaster recovery work following a disaster. According to Section 8, a declaration of a state of emergency due to a natural hazard shall be made to prevent or minimize loss of the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities; illness, injury or disaster displacement; property loss or damage; or the damage to the environment. If deemed necessary, quarantine measures shall be imposed on people or imported animals and food for curbing the spread of a disease or epidemic or an infestation or plague.
The Minister shall be responsible for the administration of this Act, and shall make policy decisions of national significance in relation to disaster risk management for the Kingdom and set and ensure disaster risk management standards, requirements and standard operating procedures. The National Disaster Risk Management Office shall establish and maintain a National Disaster Risk Management Policy for Tonga, and coordinate effective disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, and disaster response activities in the Kingdom and facilitate the disaster recovery process. The clusters shall be established, including but not limited to: food security and livelihoods cluster, led by the Ministry responsible for agriculture; and health and nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene cluster, led by the Ministry responsible for health. A National Recovery Plan shall be prepared within 3 months following a declared state of emergency.
This Act lays down provisions on the declaration of a state of emergency due to natural hazards, human induced hazards, public health and declaration of a state of alert or a small scale disaster; emergency powers; national quarantine measures; functions and powers of the Minister; establishment of the National Disaster Risk Management Office and its functions in pre-disaster, disaster, and post-disaster situations; powers of the National Controller; establishment of the National Disaster Risk Management Committee, National Disaster Operations Sub-committee, and National Disaster Risk Recovery Sub-committee and their functions; establishment, functions and reporting obligation of Island Disaster Risk Management Committee and Village Disaster Risk Management Committee; activation, functions and procedures of the National Emergency Operations Centre; emergency evacuation powers; establishment of the multi-hazard early warning system; facilitation of international assistance; equipment, machinery and warehouses to be used for disaster preparedness, response and recovery activities; the Emergency Fund to be available for the purposes of disaster preparedness, response and recovery; emergency procurement during a declared state of emergency or state of alert; designation of an authorized officer and their powers; offences and penalties; establishment of a register for the Ministry; annual reporting on disaster risk management activities; and public education and awareness.