Assisting Regional Governments in Disaster Preparedness,Improving Community-Based Disaster Management Capabilities - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

To strengthen regional governments’ disaster prevention and response capabilities, from March to late April, the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan has led efforts in assisting county/city governments in seven large-scale debris flow disaster prevention and response drills, commissioned the governments to carry out 40 small-scale drills and 260 seminars on disaster management, built up facilities and equipment in 46 shelters, and certified 580 sites for heavy machinery to be placed on standby. Twenty-six disaster management staff training seminars are expected to be carried out by the end of May as a bottom-up approach to improve overall autonomous debris flow disaster management capabilities.

Activating Debris Flow Disaster Management Mechanisms Safely Evacuating Residents in Disaster-Prone Areas

The Soil and Water Conservation Bureau launched its “Debris Flow Disaster Management Smart Phone App” to make disaster prevention/response information available to the general public by integrating real-time observation data from nationwide debris flow observation stations, data from debris flow warning systems in townships and villages, and nationwide precipitation data, and weather satellite images. Google Map and location positioning features are also integrated in order to locate people in need of help. Residents can also use the map to find both the nearest shelter and the correct emergency contact number. A comprehensive security network has been established.

In addition, to sharpen the autonomous debris flow disaster management capabilities of the public, the Bureau will recruit new people in 2012. A total of 300 people will receive training so that the number of debris flow disaster prevention personnel will increase to 1,385. Efforts will be invested in increasing the number of autonomous debris flow disaster management communities from 40 to 247, with the number of secured objects up to 46,554. Regional governments will be assisted to formulate evacuation strategies for areas devastated by Typhoon Morakot and other hazardous areas.

Disaster Prevention is Better Than Disaster Relief Leaving Disaster-Prone Areas is the Best Plan

For relevant disaster management information that will best help prepare you to respond to emergencies in the upcoming flood season, please download the app or go to the “Debris Flow Disaster Prevention Information” website (http://246.swcb.gov.tw).