Taichung 2026 Urban Resilience Drill on August 10 Introduces First-Ever Network Disruption Scenario, Urges Public Cooperation

The Taichung City 2026 Urban Resilience (Air Defense) Drill will be conducted on Monday, August 10, from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM. An air raid alert will be issued at 2:30 PM, followed by an all-clear signal at 3:00 PM. During the 30-minute exercise, movement of people and vehicles will be restricted. The city government urges all citizens to fully cooperate with police and civil defense personnel, promptly entering the nearest air raid shelters to collectively enhance the city's air defense resilience.

According to the Police Department, to simulate real wartime conditions, this year’s drill will include a new 'mobile network disruption' scenario, as directed by the National Communications Commission (NCC). During the exercise, certain mobile internet services may experience slowdowns or outages, affecting video calls, photo sharing, mobile payments, cloud backups, and video streaming. However, regular voice calls, SMS, and indoor fixed Wi-Fi will remain operational. The public is advised not to panic.

The Police Department emphasized that citizens must comply with all regulations during the drill. Upon hearing the air raid siren, all individuals and vehicles must immediately stop and follow instructions to enter the nearest shelter. All businesses must suspend operations and actively guide patrons to basements or areas away from windows. Building management committees and security personnel should proactively open basement entrances and access points to accommodate evacuees. For public transportation, the HSR, TRA, and MRT will continue normal operations, but passengers disembarking must follow guidance to shelter and must not wander outside.

Considering potential network disruptions, the city government recommends downloading the 'Police Service App' or 'Fire Disaster e-Connect' in advance to locate nearby shelters. Offline maps should be saved or screenshotted for backup. To support new immigrants and foreign nationals, the city has prepared informational posters and guide cards in eight languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Filipino. An 'Air Defense Shelter Zone' has also been set up on the Police Department’s website for public reference.

The Police Department urges the public not to linger outdoors during the drill and to strictly follow all control measures. Under the Civil Defense Act, individuals who refuse to comply with evacuation or traffic orders after warnings may face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. The city hopes for full public participation to collectively safeguard urban safety.