1.To supervise the national state of preparedness for emergencies and disasters and to report on it to the National Executive Council;

2.To maintain the National Emergency Plan (now know as the National Disaster Management Plan) of the National executive Council;

3.To assign responsibilities for disaster-related activities to Departments and other bodies;

4. To coordinate Departmental relief actions and collate national relief requirements;

5. To advise the National Executive Council if appeal for international assistance is required;

6. To lay down guidelines for the preparation and format of provincial disaster plans;

7.To examine and where necessary approve all grants from national funds for emergency relief;

8.To foster public awareness of the effects of natural hazards and measures which can be taken to reduce their effects;

9. To supervise the establishment of stockpiles of relief supplies; and

10. In the case of disaster, to advise the National Executive Council of all the circumstances and on the advisability of declaring a National Emergency.