The Post-Disaster Reconstruction of Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan

Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern

Deputy CEO, Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council &
Deputy Minister, Public Construction Commission
Executive Yuan, Republic of China

    On the seventh of August, Typhoon Morakot brought its copious rainfall to the southern Taiwan with the rainfall amount up to 2,965 mm recorded in Alishan. This record breaking rainfall, combined with untimely high tides, kept the water ever rising, gradually building into a catastrophe. There were 699 deaths and missing, and over 8,000 left homeless. Six major highways were seriously damaged and several isolated islands in high mountain area were formed under the torrential rains. After the assessments of safety of townships and villages in high mountain areas, half of villages lived by indigenous people were ranked as unsafe in 90 sites investigation.

    The mega amount of water flowing down the valley of steep mountain brought down large aggregates, woods, and high soil density water flow. The flow destroys almost all roads, bridges, levees along the river and leads to landslides and debris flow in mountain area. According to the survey, more than 1.2 billion cubic meters of earth and rock due to landslides and one million cubic meters of trees were flushed down by heavy shower. The debris packs the river up to 30 meters high and widens the rivers several times in the upstream of river. According to the data measured at Kao-Ping River station, the peak water flow reaches 29,100 cms. Prof. Tsai of National Chengkung University estimated the water flow of river is highest in past 200 years of Taiwan history. Even though the excess development in high mountain area is one reason to the occurrence of disaster, however, the record breaking amount drift woods and debris show that the environmental change due to extreme weather takes more weight to explain the cause of the disaster. It poses the fact that we are facing great future challenge from the Nature. We need to have a brand new philosophy and attitude toward the Nature.

    In order to deal with the recovery and reconstruction of the Morakot disaster, the government took the immediate measures to face the challenges. Morakot Typhoon Post-Disaster Reconstruction Special Act was approved by Congress on August 28 and declared by the President on August 29, 2009. The Act was used as the amendment to the "Disaster Prevention and Protection Law". The Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council of Executive Yuan was formed on September 12, 2009. The budget for the reconstruction plan is NT$ 120 billion and was declared by the President on Nov. 20, 2009. Another NT$ 35 billion was added from reallocated annual budget for immediate relief.

    There were four reconstruction plans developed including regional reconstruction plan with land conservation guidelines, civil infrastructure reconstruction plan, community reconstruction plan & industry reconstruction plan then follow the rule of respecting the Nature, escaping from disaster, river basin integration, as the foresight action. This lecture will present the efforts Taiwan has devoted in the first half a year after the typhoon. The following strategies were considered in the infrastructure reconstructions:

• recover the basic living conditions in short term
• prevent the consequent disasters
• river-basin integration design, construction and management
• integrate the methodologies of hazard mitigation and land conservation to create a sustainable living environment
• the adaption to the global weather change
• the review of facility design code and criteria for effectiveness and sustainability and public quality of life.

    For those house was damaged and who lives in the area declared as the unsafe by the safety assessment of experts have the qualification to apply for the permanent house by the government. The houses and job opportunities were provided with the donation and participation of government, charity institutions and enterprises. Green reconstruction plan was adopted for the building and township constructions. It promotes green energy and technologies of ubiquitous, computing and humanity for creating employment opportunities in coordination with high quality agriculture, leisure tourism and industries of local characteristics. The post-disaster reconstruction of Typhoon Morakot will provide a good example for future world reference.