A communication command vehicle will be provided on site to provide explanations. (Photo by reporter Luo Guojia)
The Ministry of Interior, together with the Ministry of Education and other inter-ministerial meetings, launched National Disaster Prevention Month activities in Tamsui today (11th) to comprehensively enhance social resilience. The event plans to launch a Taiwan-wide earthquake drill on September 21, and implement tsunami and air defense warning tests; from September 16 to 18, a large-scale earthquake on the East Rift Valley Fault will be used as a scenario, and 41 countries and 84 disaster prevention units will be mobilized to participate in the drill. Minister of the Interior Liu Shifang emphasized that there are more than 170,000 disaster prevention personnel in Taiwan, and only by preparing the entire population to reduce the damage; Minister of Education Cheng Yingyao said that disaster prevention education is deeply rooted in schools and will continue to combine local and technological technologies to protect the next generation.
This year's national earthquake evacuation drill will last from September 1 to October 30. The key core drill is scheduled to start at 9:21 a.m. on September 21, calling on families, schools, and businesses to familiarize themselves with the three steps of "get down, cover, and hold on" to survive an earthquake. On September 21, the government will conduct a number of warning tests, covering national-level earthquake warnings, tsunami warnings, air defense warnings and designated TV channel switching, to verify the ability of immediate information transmission during disasters. Among them, the tsunami warning will sound "5 seconds, stop for 5 seconds, a total of 15 seconds" and then be supplemented by voice broadcast for evacuation. The test will be conducted twice in a row.
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In addition, a large-scale earthquake relief mobilization drill will be held from September 16 to 18, using the scenario of a large-scale earthquake on the East Longitudinal Valley Fault as a scenario to comprehensively verify the capabilities of cross-regional mobilization, search and rescue, large-scale patient care and resource integration. The drill also expanded international cooperation, inviting 41 countries, 84 disaster prevention units and 17 librarians stationed in Taiwan to participate in the field exercise to verify domestic and foreign coordinated search and rescue mechanisms; an IDEA International Disaster Prevention and Rescue Teaching Seminar will also be held on September 19 to deepen the international disaster prevention and relief cooperation network.
At the level of civil defense and technological disaster relief, the government has actively promoted disaster prevention energy to take root. Currently, 176,623 disaster prevention personnel have been trained across the country, covering a wide range of practitioners such as security guards, drivers, and social workers. The Private Emergency Response Team (T-CERT) has also established 275 teams with more than 5,000 members. Grassroots township and city offices have also built 368 disaster prevention cooperation centers, equipped with communications, power supply, lighting, water filtration and other equipment, and have fully adopted unscripted tabletop exercises to respond to unexpected disasters.
In terms of technological assistance, the firefighting and disaster prevention eDiantong APP has been downloaded more than 530,000 times, providing disaster prevention information in 24 languages. To ensure communication resilience during disasters, 920 satellite phones have been deployed in fire stations, township offices and isolated island areas across Taiwan. 28 communication command vehicles will be distributed this year and are expected to expand to 81 vehicles in 2014. At the same time, 420 drones have been built, combining thermal imaging, AI recognition and 3D modeling technology to reduce frontline disaster relief risks. On the daily side, more than 30 entities and online e-commerce channels have been combined to set up disaster prevention areas to promote emergency evacuation kits that are essential for families.
The number of disaster prevention personnel in Taiwan exceeds 170,000. Liu Shifang: We strive to reach 200,000 by the end of the year
Minister of the Interior Liu Shifang said in his speech that there are currently more than 176,000 disaster preparedness fighters nationwide, and they are moving towards the goal of 200,000 by the end of the year. National Disaster Prevention Month is to encourage citizens in every corner of Taiwan to be prepared to face various complex natural disasters and jointly minimize disaster risks.
In his speech, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao pointed out that Taiwan’s disaster prevention schools have been fully integrated into kindergartens, special education and key indigenous schools. More than 3 million teachers and students nationwide participate in drills every year. Digital technologies such as AI and VR are combined with local culture and history to enable children to grow up with the resilience to recognize disasters, avoid disasters and help each other.
In his speech, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao pointed out that Taiwan’s disaster prevention schools have been fully integrated into kindergartens, special education and key indigenous schools. More than 3 million teachers and students nationwide participate in drills every year. Digital technologies such as AI and VR are combined with local culture and history to enable children to grow up with the resilience to recognize disasters, avoid disasters and help each other. (Photo by reporter Luo Guojia)
In his speech, Minister of the Interior Liu Shifang said that there are currently more than 176,000 disaster prevention personnel nationwide, and they are moving towards the goal of 200,000 by the end of the year. (Photo by reporter Luo Guojia)
The Ministry of Interior, together with the Ministry of Education and other inter-ministerial meetings, launched National Disaster Prevention Month activities in Tamsui today (11th) to comprehensively enhance social resilience. (Photo by reporter Luo Guojia)
Students experience fire fighting on site. (Photo by reporter Luo Guojia)
