institutional mechanisms and capacity, as well as forecasting systems and technologies. 6.2.2 Policy: Member States shall develop and implement integrated and coherent regional and watercourse level management plans and procedures for the management of natural disasters and emergency situations. Emergency preparedness for floods and droughts requires proactive planning at a watercourse and regional level, outlining the approaches and procedures for predicting, controlling and mitigating emergency situations (including natural disasters). This should be based on coherent multi-level (regional, watercourse and national) plans, with integration at a shared watercourse level, emphasising risk management and the vulnerability of people and property. 6.2.3. Policy: Regional disaster management planning shall be aligned with other sector disaster management plans and involve consultation with relevant stakeholders Natural water-related disasters have significant impacts on and are impacted by other sectors, including agriculture, food security, energy security, domestic supply and industrial development. Alignment between water sector disaster management plans and those of other sectors is essential for coherent management of the impacts of disasters (particularly for droughts). At a minimum, this requires water sector plans to address and be addressed by other sectors‟ plans. The development of these plans should involve consultation with these sectors, as well as relevant stakeholders with an interest in disaster management. 6.2.4. Policy: Each Member State has an obligation to notify and share knowledge and information with affected watercourse States in the event of actual or pending water related disasters Mitigation of the impacts from natural disasters and emergency situations requires all parties to have information to support decision-making. This includes notification of an imminent or actual disaster, as well as sharing of information to support decisions, and implementation and management of mitigation measures according to agreed disaster management and emergency preparedness plans and procedures. - 34 -