Improving geohazard emergency rescue and response capacity in the Three Gorges Reservoir area: System optimization based on the dual cores of “emergency rescue” and “evacuation and resettlement”

Geological hazards in the Three Gorges Reservoir area are abrupt, cascading, and concealed, while the traditional emergency rescue system remains functionally fragmented and insufficiently coordinated. This study aims to build a modern emergency response system based on the dual-core synergy of “emergency rescue” and “evacuation and resettlement” to enhance regional geohazard emergency rescue and response capacity. Considering the geological complexity of the reservoir area and the practical needs of disaster response, the core weaknesses of the existing emergency rescue system are first systematically diagnosed. A three-level collaborative “1+2+2N” optimization framework, comprising a “command center-dispatch hub-execution terminal” structure, is then constructed. Capacity-enhancement pathways are proposed in terms of system construction, infrastructure coordination, technological empowerment, and mechanism innovation. A three-level emergency rescue system covering the entire reservoir area and integrating land-water coordination is developed. The functional positioning and operational logic of each level are clarified. Key implementation pathways, including infrastructure reinforcement, technological and equipment upgrading, and coordination-mechanism optimization, are proposed to address fragmentation, delayed response, and other weaknesses of the traditional system. This study provides theoretical support and practical reference for modernizing geohazard emergency rescue systems in mountainous reservoir areas. It also outlines long-term upgrade directions toward intelligent, full-coverage, and resilient operation, offering guidance for improving disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief capacity in the reservoir area.