Tropical Depression TD21 has formed into Typhoon Ragasa on the 18th, and is expected to affect Taiwan on the 22nd, making its closest approach to Taitung in the early morning of the 23rd. Mountainous areas may face the threat of heavy rainfall.
To reduce the impact of wind and rain, the Water Resources Agency held a disaster prevention preparedness meeting today (19th). Director Lin Yuan-peng instructed all branch offices to initiate emergency response deployments in advance, make full use of real-time monitoring technology, and integrate with local disaster prevention capabilities to comprehensively enhance overall response effectiveness. He directed all river branch offices to strengthen inspections of sea dike facilities, proactively inquire about local needs, establish contact windows with local water resources authorities, proactively provide assistance and support, and remind local governments to clear drainage systems and sewer covers, empty detention basins, and guard against significant rainfall that the typhoon may bring.
Kuo Chien-hung, Director of the Eighth River Management Branch, stated that the branch has installed smart sensors in important rivers and low-lying areas within its jurisdiction. Water level and rainfall information can be transmitted back to the monitoring center in real-time, ensuring timely grasp of water conditions without delay. Mobile pumps and waterproof barriers have been pre-deployed at flood-prone hotspots to ensure rapid activation during sudden heavy rainfall. Flood prevention volunteers are on standby in groups and have established communication links with local village chiefs and community-based disaster prevention organizations to strengthen real-time reporting and response efficiency.
Additionally, for confluence points such as the Beinan River and Jialu River, the Eighth River Management Branch has recently completed river channel clearance and cross-section inspections to increase flood discharge capacity. Coastal protection works and dikes are simultaneously being strengthened with inspections to respond to potential long-wave attacks brought by the typhoon. Cooperation with the Taitung County Government, highway authorities, and other agencies has been established to create a real-time flood prevention information sharing platform, promoting cross-unit coordination and resource deployment.
The Eighth River Management Branch reminds residents in the Taitung area to inspect their drainage facilities early, prepare disaster prevention materials such as sandbags and waterproof gates, and avoid coastal and river activities during storms and heavy rain. It is recommended to make full use of the "Water Resources Agency Water Situation App," "Central Weather Administration QPlus App," and the "Disaster Prevention Information Website" (https://fhy.wra.gov.tw) to stay updated with the latest weather and water information. Only by combining technological monitoring with community disaster prevention can we truly achieve the disaster prevention goal of "more vigilance, less loss."