Taichung City Fully Prepares for Typhoon Bavi; Mayor Lu Stresses Proactive Deployment and Vigilance

Strong Typhoon Bavi is approaching Taiwan, with the Central Weather Administration forecasting a wind radius of up to 380 kilometers. The storm may make landfall near the northeast coast or Yilan, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall from the 10th onward. On the 9th, Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen chaired the first Typhoon Bavi work meeting, announcing that the city government has elevated its emergency response level. She instructed all departments to fully implement disaster prevention, evacuation of at-risk households, and post-disaster recovery preparations, while strengthening flood control and temporary waste storage management. Lu emphasized 'better to be over-prepared than complacent' and urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with all disaster prevention measures to safeguard lives and property.

Given the expected severe weather, the city has entered full emergency readiness. Mayor Lu directed departments to enhance flood control, dredging, and control of hazardous areas, with the option to close mountainous zones, coastal areas, bridges, and underpasses if necessary. She also stressed the importance of evacuating at-risk households and preparing shelters. Citizens are advised to clear drainage around homes, secure or remove hanging objects, monitor official announcements, and comply with all safety measures to ensure maximum preparedness.

Mayor Lu reminded residents in Heping District not to be complacent. The city has completed inventory and testing of water supply systems, water towers, and backup power generators. The Civil Affairs Bureau and Heping District Office continue preparations, and residents are urged to stock up on essential supplies and personal items. Those needing evacuation must cooperate with shelter arrangements.

Lu emphasized that the city will follow the principle of 'better to be over-prepared than take risks,' doing everything possible to ensure public safety. To manage large volumes of post-disaster waste, the Environmental Protection Bureau, Construction Bureau, and related units are instructed to strengthen management of temporary waste storage sites, ensure fire safety equipment is in place, prevent fires from flammable materials, and maintain odor control, cleanliness, and mosquito control to avoid public health issues.

Deputy Mayor Huang Kuo-jung represented Mayor Lu at the Executive Yuan meeting on the 9th, delivering a special report on typhoon preparedness. The city had previously held a disaster preparedness meeting and activated its Level 3 Disaster Response Center today, continuing to implement all typhoon countermeasures. In response to warnings from the Environmental Department, the city has instructed the Environmental Protection Bureau to strengthen inspections and safety measures at waste storage sites, as post-typhoon waste mixed with batteries or lithium batteries could pose fire risks.

The city has completed inspections of pumps, sluice gates, and all flood control equipment, and intensified public awareness campaigns on securing outdoor signs and structures. The Fire Bureau has prepared 2,062 on-call personnel and various rescue equipment. The Police Bureau has deployed officers, vehicles, drones, and auxiliary personnel to monitor and, if necessary, restrict access to high-risk areas such as mountain roads, trailheads, ports, wetlands, rivers, and other vulnerable zones.

Additionally, the city has completed pre-emptive visits, shelter arrangements, and medical preparedness for flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, at-risk households, and vulnerable populations. It continues to monitor the supply and pricing of essential goods. The Construction, Transportation, Water Resources, and Environmental Protection bureaus have completed preparations for roads, drainage, pumping, cleaning, and traffic facilities. The city will maintain close coordination with central authorities, ready to escalate response levels as needed, and through cross-departmental collaboration, minimize disaster impacts.