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| National Emergency Office (ONEMI) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Emergency Office (ONEMI) |
| Native name | Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Preceding1 | Ministry of the Interior |
| Jurisdiction | Chile |
| Headquarters | Santiago |
| Chief1 name | (See Organization and Leadership) |
| Website | (omitted) |
National Emergency Office (ONEMI) The National Emergency Office (ONEMI) is the Chilean civil protection agency responsible for coordinating disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and recovery operations across Chile. It operates within the framework set by the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile), interacting with national institutions such as the Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles, regional authorities like the Intendencia, and local municipalities including the Municipality of Santiago. ONEMI's activities have been shaped by major events including the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami, and international engagements such as cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
ONEMI traces institutional roots to disaster coordination initiatives following the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the 1971 Chilean floods and mudflows, and organizational reforms during the administration of President Eduardo Frei Montalva. Its formal establishment in 1974 reflects a lineage connected to the Ministry of the Interior and administrative reforms during the period of Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990). Subsequent decades saw ONEMI evolve in response to crises like the 1985 Algarrobo earthquake, the 2001 Antofagasta earthquake, and the catastrophic 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami, prompting institutional reviews involving actors such as the National Geology and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN), the Chilean Navy, and the Chilean Air Force. Post-2010 reforms drew on international comparisons with agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
ONEMI is structured to link national, regional, and provincial emergency management through coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile), regional presidential delegates such as the Intendencias, and provincial governors. Leadership appointments have historically been influenced by administrations including those of Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, and Gabriel Boric, with directors liaising with entities such as the National Directorate of Water (DGA), the National Service of Geology and Mining (SERNAGEOMIN), and the Chilean Red Cross. Operational command interfaces with the Chilean Army, Carabineros de Chile, and the Chilean Navy for logistics, search and rescue, and maritime warnings. Regional ONEMI offices coordinate with municipal emergency offices in cities like Valparaíso, Concepción, and Puerto Montt.
ONEMI's mandate derives from statutes and executive decrees enacted within the legal system of Chile, including frameworks established by the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile). Its authority intersects with specialized regulators such as SERNAGEOMIN for geological hazards, the National Emergency System of Chile mechanisms, and sectoral ministries including the Ministry of Public Works (Chile), the Ministry of Health (Chile), and the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications (Chile). Legal responsibilities encompass coordination of national contingency plans alongside protocols used by institutions like the National Service for Geology and Mining and guidelines influenced by international instruments such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
ONEMI organizes national contingency planning, mobilization of assets, and operational coordination during events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and wildfires. During incidents it activates protocols used by the Chilean Navy for tsunami advisories, coordinates aerial reconnaissance with the Chilean Air Force, and arranges field logistics with the Chilean Army and Carabineros de Chile. Response operations have incorporated international assistance frameworks involving the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and bilateral cooperation with countries including Japan, United States, and New Zealand. ONEMI manages shelters in collaboration with municipal authorities, links with the Ministry of Health (Chile) for medical response, and implements recovery planning with the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (Chile).
ONEMI works with scientific institutions to maintain hazard monitoring and warning systems, coordinating with the Seismological Service of Chile, SERNAGEOMIN, the Chile Meteorological Service, and the Hydrological Directorate (DGA). For tsunami risk ONEMI integrates data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and regional tidal networks including ports managed by the Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo y Marina Mercante (DIRECTEMAR). Wildfire risk coordination involves agencies such as the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), while urban risk assessment engages the Faculty of Engineering, University of Chile and research groups at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Early warning dissemination uses mass notification channels shared with broadcasters like Televisión Nacional de Chile and telecommunications firms regulated by the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (Subtel).
ONEMI conducts training programs, drills, and public education campaigns in partnership with institutions such as the Chilean Red Cross, Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), and university research centers including the University of Chile. Community outreach links to municipal emergency offices across municipalities such as Viña del Mar and La Serena, engaging volunteers, local civil defense committees, and nongovernmental organizations like Techo (organization). Educational initiatives reference historical events including the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami and draw on international materials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
ONEMI maintains formal and informal coordination with national actors including the Ministry of Health (Chile), Ministry of Public Works (Chile), SERNAGEOMIN, and the Chilean Armed Forces. Internationally it engages with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and bilateral partners such as Japan and the United States. During major disasters ONEMI interfaces with humanitarian networks including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to facilitate aid, technical assistance, and reconstruction financing.
Category:Emergency management in Chile Category:Government agencies of Chile