wfn.org | After the Typhoon, a Re-assessment of Disaster Preparation Training

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2733, 12-18 July 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren and Chen Yi-shiuan .Translated and Rewritten by David
Alexander

The damages inflicted by Typhoon Mindulle that struck Taiwan on July 1 & 2
and
the landslides and floods that ensued have caused those who responded to the
destruction to re-assess their preparations. The Church and Society Committee
of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) had long ago asked each local
presbytery or district to establish and train its own disaster response team.

In the aftermath of the recent storm it became apparent that training needs
to
be strengthened and relief supplies must be more accessible. Some ministers
and elders feel that residents of disaster areas must be more attentive to
keeping some supplies of their own on hand.

PCT General Secretary William J. K. Lo said that when disasters happen,
helicopters are most helpful for transporting of the injured. It is a
wasteful
loss to divert them to carry food and other supplies. He suggests that during
non-emergency times stockpiles of supplies be laid in so that churches can do
a better job of rescue and relief.

During the typhoon Bong-mei Village in Hsin-yi Township of Nantou County had
its road and piped water connections to the outside world cut. The people
there "rescued themselves". The first day following the landslides they
reconnected their own water, and a short time thereafter restored road
connections. The local Presbyterian Church leaders cooperated with township
officials, gathering the food resources of the town into the church from
which
they were distributed.	There was no shortage of food so no need for
emergency
supplies to be brought in from outside.

National Affairs Advisor Yohani Ishahavut lives in Bong-mei.. He said,
"Disaster area residents' latent strength is unfathomable." Those who live in
the disaster area had the ability to save themselves so didn't wait for
outside rescue. Local churches cooperated with local government agencies and
took upon themselves the responsibilities to assign suitable people to
various
tasks. He suggests that every local presbytery, the first time it meets
natural disaster, must send reports of its actions to the General Assembly
and
other outside agencies that all might know the needs of the locale and offer
what is most needed.

Watan Diro, the General Secretary of the PCT's Sediq	district has already
consulted with the disaster response teams in his area, heard their feedback,
and scheduled further training for 13th August.

For More Information:
Church and Society Committee, PCT service@mail.pct.org.tw
Yohani Ishahavut yahuiyan@ms10.hinet.net
Watan Diro ayuc@ms47.hinet.net

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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