diff --git a/app/controllers/admin/emergency_rules_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin/emergency_rules_controller.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..82e90df14b6974
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/controllers/admin/emergency_rules_controller.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module Admin
+  class EmergencyRulesController < BaseController
+    before_action :set_rule, except: [:index]
+
+    def index
+      authorize [:emergency, :rule], :index?
+
+      @rules = Emergency::Rule.all.to_a
+    end
+
+    def deactivate
+      authorize @rule, :deactivate?
+      # TODO: log?
+      @rule.deactivate!
+
+      redirect_to admin_emergency_rules_path, notice: I18n.t('admin.emergency_rules.deactivated_msg')
+    end
+
+    private
+
+    def set_rule
+      @rule = Emergency::Rule.find(params[:id])
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/helpers/admin/dashboard_helper.rb b/app/helpers/admin/dashboard_helper.rb
index 6096ff1381e7bb..e82cbd471d92f6 100644
--- a/app/helpers/admin/dashboard_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/admin/dashboard_helper.rb
@@ -36,4 +36,12 @@ def relevant_account_timestamp(account)
 
     content_tag(:time, l(timestamp), class: 'time-ago', datetime: timestamp.iso8601, title: l(timestamp))
   end
+
+  def emergency_rule_notice
+    return unless Emergency::Rule.any_active?
+
+    content_tag(:div, class: 'flash-message warning') do
+      I18n.t('admin.emergency_rules.notice_html', path: admin_emergency_rules_path).html_safe
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/policies/emergency/rule_policy.rb b/app/policies/emergency/rule_policy.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..e2f2c494056cac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/policies/emergency/rule_policy.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class Emergency::RulePolicy < ApplicationPolicy
+  def create?
+    false # TODO
+  end
+
+  def index?
+    role.can?(:manage_reports, :view_audit_log, :manage_users, :manage_invites, :manage_taxonomies, :manage_federation, :manage_blocks)
+  end
+
+  def deactivate?
+    role.can?(:manage_reports, :view_audit_log, :manage_users, :manage_invites, :manage_taxonomies, :manage_federation, :manage_blocks)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/admin/accounts/index.html.haml b/app/views/admin/accounts/index.html.haml
index 8354441895deb8..218d329f41fca3 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/accounts/index.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/accounts/index.html.haml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 - content_for :page_title do
   = t('admin.accounts.title')
 
+= emergency_rule_notice
+
 = form_tag admin_accounts_url, method: 'GET', class: 'simple_form' do
   .filters
     .filter-subset.filter-subset--with-select
diff --git a/app/views/admin/dashboard/index.html.haml b/app/views/admin/dashboard/index.html.haml
index 3597152e09ed49..907e1a25c12d52 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/dashboard/index.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/dashboard/index.html.haml
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+= emergency_rule_notice
+
 - content_for :page_title do
   = t('admin.dashboard.title')
 
diff --git a/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_emergency_rule.html.haml b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_emergency_rule.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..361c0f21efdca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_emergency_rule.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+.filters-list__item
+  .filters-list__item__title
+    = emergency_rule.name
+
+    - if emergency_rule.active?
+      .expiration
+        - if can?(:deactivate, emergency_rule)
+          = link_to t('admin.emergency_rules.index.deactivate'), deactivate_admin_emergency_rule_path(emergency_rule.id), method: :post, class: 'button button-tertiary button--destructive'
+        - else
+          = t('admin.emergency_rules.active')
+
+  .filters-list__item__permissions
+    %ul.permissions-list
+      = render partial: 'trigger', collection: emergency_rule.triggers
+      = render partial: 'rate_limit_action', collection: emergency_rule.rate_limit_actions
+      = render partial: 'setting_override_action', collection: emergency_rule.setting_override_actions
+
+  .announcements-list__item__action-bar
+    .announcements-list__item__meta
+      -# TODO: history
+      - if emergency_rule.duration.present?
+        = t('admin.emergency_rules.expires_after_duration', duration: distance_of_time_in_words(Time.at(0).utc, Time.at(emergency_rule.duration).utc))
+      - else
+        = t('admin.emergency_rules.no_expiration')
diff --git a/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_rate_limit_action.html.haml b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_rate_limit_action.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f0b47ba3a0fd78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_rate_limit_action.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+%li.permissions-list__item
+  .permissions-list__item__icon
+    = fa_icon('gavel')
+  .permissions-list__item__text
+    .permissions-list__item__text__title
+      = rate_limit_action.new_users_only? ? t('admin.emergency_rules.rate_limit_actions.new_users_title') : t('admin.emergency_rules.rate_limit_actions.title')
+    .permissions-list__item__text__type
+      = rate_limit_action.new_users_only? ? t('admin.emergency_rules.rate_limit_actions.new_users_description') : t('admin.emergency_rules.rate_limit_actions.description')
diff --git a/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_setting_override_action.html.haml b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_setting_override_action.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..57bf105e4179cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_setting_override_action.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+%li.permissions-list__item
+  .permissions-list__item__icon
+    = fa_icon('gavel')
+  .permissions-list__item__text
+    .permissions-list__item__text__title
+      = t("admin.emergency_rules.setting_override_actions.#{setting_override_action.setting}.title_#{setting_override_action.value}")
+    .permissions-list__item__text__type
+      = t('admin.emergency_rules.setting_override_actions.description')
diff --git a/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_trigger.html.haml b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_trigger.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..8c2665ee231844
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/_trigger.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+%li.permissions-list__item
+  .permissions-list__item__icon
+    = fa_icon('cogs')
+  .permissions-list__item__text
+    .permissions-list__item__text__title
+      = t("admin.emergency_rules.triggers.title.#{trigger.event}")
+    .permissions-list__item__text__type
+      - period = t("admin.emergency_rules.triggers.periods.#{trigger.duration_bucket}")
+      = t('admin.emergency_rules.triggers.description', threshold: trigger.threshold, period: period)
diff --git a/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/index.html.haml b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/index.html.haml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..a74da1f27d23ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/admin/emergency_rules/index.html.haml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+- content_for :page_title do
+  = t('admin.emergency_rules.index.title')
+
+- content_for :heading_actions do
+  = link_to t('admin.emergency_rules.index.add'), new_admin_emergency_rule_path, class: 'button' if can?(:create, [:emergency, :rule])
+
+  %p.lead= t('admin.emergency_rules.index.preamble')
+
+- if @rules.empty?
+  .muted-hint.center-text= t 'admin.emergency_rules.index.empty'
+- else
+  .applications-list
+    = render partial: 'emergency_rule', collection: @rules
diff --git a/app/views/admin/reports/index.html.haml b/app/views/admin/reports/index.html.haml
index e2a9868aa54e1b..234f4993877a2f 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/reports/index.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/admin/reports/index.html.haml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 - content_for :page_title do
   = t('admin.reports.title')
 
+= emergency_rule_notice
+
 .filters
   .filter-subset
     %strong= t('admin.reports.status')
diff --git a/config/i18n-tasks.yml b/config/i18n-tasks.yml
index 8463d4297d5853..7c4203495e9987 100644
--- a/config/i18n-tasks.yml
+++ b/config/i18n-tasks.yml
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ ignore_unused:
   - 'admin.action_logs.actions.*'
   - 'admin.reports.summary.action_preambles.*'
   - 'admin.reports.summary.actions.*'
+  - 'admin.emergency_rules.setting_override_actions.*.title_*'
   - 'admin_mailer.new_appeal.actions.*'
   - 'statuses.attached.*'
   - 'move_handler.carry_{mutes,blocks}_over_text'
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index 50f814a81d56a6..7d41e3bc1e19d2 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -444,6 +444,40 @@ en:
       resolved_dns_records_hint_html: The domain name resolves to the following MX domains, which are ultimately responsible for accepting e-mail. Blocking an MX domain will block sign-ups from any e-mail address which uses the same MX domain, even if the visible domain name is different. <strong>Be careful not to block major e-mail providers.</strong>
       resolved_through_html: Resolved through %{domain}
       title: Blocked e-mail domains
+    emergency_rules:
+      active: Active
+      deactivated_msg: Successfully deactivated emergency rule
+      expires_after_duration: Deactivates %{duration} after most recent trigger
+      index:
+        add: Add new rule
+        deactivate: Deactivate
+        empty: There are currently no emergency rules set up on this server.
+        preamble: Emergency rules are configurable automated rules meant to give moderators some time to breath when the server is facing an unusual surge of activity.
+        title: Emergency rules
+      no_expiration: Needs to be manually disabled once triggered
+      notice_html: An <a href="%{path}">emergency rule</a> is currently enabled.
+      rate_limit_actions:
+        description: All local accounts get heavily rate-limited when this rule is active
+        new_users_description: Accounts confirmed around or after this rule got triggered get heavily rate-limited
+        new_users_title: Heavily rate-limit new users
+        title: Heavily rate-limit users
+      setting_override_actions:
+        captcha_enabled:
+          title_true: Enable CAPTCHA
+        description: Overrides the server settings when this rule is active
+        registrations_mode:
+          title_approved: Switch registrations to approval-based
+          title_none: Close registrations
+      triggers:
+        description: Triggers when reaching %{threshold} per %{period}
+        periods:
+          day: day
+          hour: hour
+          minute: minute
+        title:
+          local:confirmations: New account confirmations
+          local:posts: New posts
+          local:signups: New registrations
     export_domain_allows:
       new:
         title: Import domain allows
diff --git a/config/navigation.rb b/config/navigation.rb
index 1e7acf3b9c61d8..41905c253ed3d5 100644
--- a/config/navigation.rb
+++ b/config/navigation.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
       s.item :email_domain_blocks, safe_join([fa_icon('envelope fw'), t('admin.email_domain_blocks.title')]), admin_email_domain_blocks_path, highlights_on: %r{/admin/email_domain_blocks}, if: -> { current_user.can?(:manage_blocks) }
       s.item :ip_blocks, safe_join([fa_icon('ban fw'), t('admin.ip_blocks.title')]), admin_ip_blocks_path, highlights_on: %r{/admin/ip_blocks}, if: -> { current_user.can?(:manage_blocks) }
       s.item :action_logs, safe_join([fa_icon('bars fw'), t('admin.action_logs.title')]), admin_action_logs_path, if: -> { current_user.can?(:view_audit_log) }
+      s.item :emergency_rules, safe_join([fa_icon('shield fw'), t('admin.emergency_rules.index.title')]), admin_emergency_rules_path, highlights_on: %r{/admin/emergency_rules}, if: -> { current_user.can?(:manage_reports, :view_audit_log, :manage_users, :manage_invites, :manage_taxonomies, :manage_federation, :manage_blocks) }
     end
 
     n.item :admin, safe_join([fa_icon('cogs fw'), t('admin.title')]), nil, if: -> { current_user.can?(:view_dashboard, :manage_settings, :manage_rules, :manage_announcements, :manage_custom_emojis, :manage_webhooks, :manage_federation) && !self_destruct } do |s|
diff --git a/config/routes/admin.rb b/config/routes/admin.rb
index 207cb0580dcaaf..40fbaa38a4fec2 100644
--- a/config/routes/admin.rb
+++ b/config/routes/admin.rb
@@ -203,4 +203,10 @@
   end
 
   resources :software_updates, only: [:index]
+
+  resources :emergency_rules do
+    member do
+      post :deactivate
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/requests/admin/emergency_rules_controller_spec.rb b/spec/requests/admin/emergency_rules_controller_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..134dc60f562dbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/requests/admin/emergency_rules_controller_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe Admin::EmergencyRulesController do
+  before do
+    Fabricate('Emergency::Trigger')
+    Fabricate('Emergency::SettingOverrideAction')
+    Fabricate('Emergency::RateLimitAction')
+  end
+
+  describe 'the index route' do
+    context 'when not logged in' do
+      it 'returns HTTP forbidden' do
+        get '/admin/emergency_rules'
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(403)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when logged in as a regular user' do
+      before do
+        sign_in Fabricate(:user), scope: :user
+      end
+
+      it 'returns HTTP forbidden' do
+        get '/admin/emergency_rules'
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(403)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when logged in as a moderator' do
+      let(:user)  { Fabricate(:user, role: UserRole.find_by!(name: 'Moderator')) }
+
+      before do
+        sign_in user, scope: :user
+      end
+
+      it 'returns HTTP success' do
+        get '/admin/emergency_rules'
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(200)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'the deactivation route' do
+    let(:rule) { Fabricate('Emergency::Rule') }
+
+    before do
+      rule.trigger!(1.day.ago)
+    end
+
+    context 'when not logged in' do
+      it 'returns HTTP forbidden' do
+        post "/admin/emergency_rules/#{rule.id}/deactivate"
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(403)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when logged in as a regular user' do
+      before do
+        sign_in Fabricate(:user), scope: :user
+      end
+
+      it 'returns HTTP forbidden' do
+        post "/admin/emergency_rules/#{rule.id}/deactivate"
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(403)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when logged in as a moderator' do
+      let(:user)  { Fabricate(:user, role: UserRole.find_by!(name: 'Moderator')) }
+
+      before do
+        sign_in user, scope: :user
+      end
+
+      it 'redirects' do
+        post "/admin/emergency_rules/#{rule.id}/deactivate"
+
+        expect(response).to redirect_to '/admin/emergency_rules'
+      end
+
+      it 'deactivates the rule' do
+        expect { post "/admin/emergency_rules/#{rule.id}/deactivate" }.to change { rule.reload.active? }.from(true).to(false)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end