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| National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (Chile) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública |
| Native name | Oficina Nacional de Emergencia (ONEMI) |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Jurisdiction | Chile |
| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Parent agency | Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile) |
National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (Chile) is the Chilean national civil protection agency responsible for disaster risk reduction, emergency management, and post-disaster recovery. It operates under the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile) and coordinates with regional, municipal, and sectoral bodies across Chile, integrating seismic, hydrometeorological, volcanic, and technological risk monitoring into national response efforts.
The agency traces roots to earlier civil defense initiatives following the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, leading to institutional reforms during the Government Junta (Chile) era and formal establishment in 1974 under the Pinochet administration. Throughout the late 20th century ONEMI adapted after major events such as the 1985 Valparaiso earthquake, the 1991 Antofagasta earthquake, and the 2004 Tarapacá earthquake, influencing policy after lessons from the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami and interacting with international actors including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Meteorological Organization, and foreign civil protection agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency and Japan Meteorological Agency.
ONEMI is organized with a national directorate in Santiago, Chile and regional emergency offices aligned with the Regional Government (Chile) divisions. Its structure comprises technical units for seismic risk, volcanic surveillance liaison, hydrology coordination, and logistics, and administrative links to the Undersecretariat of the Interior (Chile). Regional delegations coordinate with municipal Intendencia (Chile) offices, provincial governors, and mayors such as those of Valparaíso, Concepción, Chile, and Puerto Montt. ONEMI’s chain of command interfaces with sectoral ministries including Ministry of Health (Chile), Ministry of Public Works (Chile), and Ministry of Defense (Chile) for integrated operational posture.
Primary roles include early warning dissemination, emergency declarations, civil protection planning, and coordination of national response operations. ONEMI issues alerts informed by data from institutions like the National Geology and Mining Service (Chile), the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, and the Seismological Service of the University of Chile. It organizes national contingency plans, oversees evacuation protocols in coastal municipalities affected by tsunami risk from subduction earthquakes along the Peru–Chile Trench, and supports recovery programs in collaboration with the National Service of Geology and Mining (SERNAGEOMIN), Servicio de Salud Metropolitano, and international donors.
ONEMI develops preparedness programs, conducts drills, and maintains operational centers for real-time coordination during crises. During seismic events it activates national operations centers synchronized with the Central Emergency Response Fund-style mechanisms, coordinates search and rescue resources including the Chilean Army, Carabineros de Chile, and civilian volunteer brigades, and facilitates humanitarian logistics for agencies like Red Cross Society of Chile and UNICEF. Its response portfolio spans flood mitigation in the Copiapó River basin, wildfire suppression near Araucanía Region, and volcanic ash contingencies for Calbuco and Villarrica volcano episodes.
ONEMI’s partnerships extend to regional bodies such as the Organization of American States, bilateral cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency, and scientific collaboration with academic centers like the University of Chile and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. It participates in multinational exercises with entities such as Pan American Health Organization and links to private-sector actors including telecommunications companies for alert dissemination and logistics firms for relief supply chains. Municipal emergency offices, provincial authorities, hospital networks, ports authorities like the Valparaíso Port Authority, and aviation regulators such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Chile) are regular operational partners.
ONEMI’s mandate is grounded in Chilean statutes and decrees under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile), including legal instruments shaped after the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami that reinforced early warning responsibilities and interagency coordination. It operates within frameworks tied to national land-use planning laws, civil protection regulations, and public health emergency statutes overseen by the Ministry of Health (Chile). International commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and agreements on meteorological data exchange also inform its legal and operational obligations.
Notable ONEMI operations include nationwide coordination during the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami, where tsunami advisories and evacuations spanned the Biobío Region, Maule Region, and Los Lagos Region; responses to the 2014–2015 Chile wildfires in the Valparaíso Region and O'Higgins Region; flood responses in Atacama Region following the 2015 Northern Chile floods and mudflows; and volcanic crisis management during the 2015 Calbuco eruption. ONEMI’s performance in several events prompted institutional reviews, collaboration with international investigation teams, and reforms to early warning dissemination systems, engaging experts from institutions like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and peer civil protection agencies.
Category:Emergency management in Chile Category:Government agencies of Chile