LCQ10: Disaster Preventive Measures of Tai O
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Following is a concern by the Hon Chan Chun-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (May 6):
Concern:
Tai O, located in a low-lying location, has often end up being a flooding blackspot throughout hurricanes and heavy rain. In this regard, the Government has, throughout the years, carried out different flood avoidance works and carried out numerous drills in Tai O. In relation to the catastrophe preventive steps executed in Tai O, will the Government notify this Council:
(1) as previous to the arrival of hurricanes and heavy rain, the Islands District Office will obtain specific facilities (such as the rural committee workplace, incorporated services centres and the neighborhood work workplace) to act as momentary shelters, of the percentage of Tai O’s overall population these shelters can accommodate; and whether an evaluation has actually been made relating to the capability of these shelters to fulfill the catastrophe avoidance requirements of Tai O homeowners;
(2) as it is discovered that the Islands District Office, in partnership with appropriate federal government departments and regional organisations, will arrange from time to time rescue and evacuation drills in case of major flooding in Tai O, whether stats have actually been put together on the variety of homeowners taking part in each drill over the previous 3 years; and whether homeowners’ viewpoints on the material of the drills and the simulated circumstances have actually been gathered; if so, of the information; if not the factors for that; and
(3) as the senior make up a big percentage of the Tai O locals and they may need more time to get and comprehend brand-new details, whether the authorities have released workforce to particularly promote to senior locals approaches of self-protection throughout hurricanes or heavy rain, in addition to assistance determines offered by the Government; if so, of the information; if not, the factors for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has actually constantly connected terrific significance to the reaction to severe weather. As Tai O is positioned in a low-lying location, extreme flooding might take place under severe weather condition. The Islands District Office (IsDO), in partnership with other pertinent departments, consisting of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has actually collectively developed the Alert System and Emergency Response Plan for Serious Flooding in Tai O (the Emergency Response Plan) to assist in prompt and suitable contingency plans to be made, therefore reducing the effect of flooding on the Tai O neighborhood.
When the HKO projections that the water level in Tai O might reach 3.0 metres (above chart information) within 24 hours, the Emergency Response Plan will be partly triggered, and pertinent federal government departments will carry out flood defense steps. The DSD will, depending on the circumstance, set up flood barriers at proper areas (such as along the banks of the Tai O Creek and other riverbanks), and location sandbags at numerous places within the district for usage by locals and organizations; the IsDO and the SWD will co-ordinate with the Tai O Rural Committee, regional organisations, Care Teams and pertinent frontline departments to call homeowners living in low-lying locations and supply support with regard to their particular situations and demands, consisting of raising big furnishings and electrical home appliances in their homes and calling their family members and good friends living outside Tai O for short-lived lodging.
If the HKO projections that the water level in Tai O might reach 3.3 metres (above chart information) in the coming couple of hours, the Emergency Response Plan will be completely triggered. The HKO will provide early cautions through cellphone text to appropriate federal government departments and Tai O local and anglers agents. The IsDO will get in touch with the appropriate systems and departments to validate that they have actually gotten the messages and advise them to advise regional citizens to look for haven at momentary shelters, transit centres or other safe locations (such as the homes of loved ones and good friends outside Tai O) if required. The IsDO will likewise mobilise the disciplined services, consisting of the HKPF, the FSD and the Civil Aid Service (CAS), to go to Tai O to take part in evacuation and rescue operations, and to prompt and/or help locals in looking for momentary shelter at the abovementioned safe places.
Our reply to the captioned concern is as follows:
(1) Once the Emergency Response Plan is completely triggered, the Tai O Rural Committee Office, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Tai O Branch of the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Service Centre, and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College will, depending upon the scenarios, be opened as short-term shelters, whilst chosen systems in Lung Tin Estate will likewise be utilized as a short-lived transit centre to supply short-term shelter for homeowners in requirement. These shelters and transit centre might provide short-term lodging to some 200 individuals in overall. Over the previous 3 years, the Emergency Response Plan was completely triggered on 5 celebrations, and the typical utilisation rate of the stated shelters and transit centre totaled up to about 4.4 percent throughout the duration. As numerous Tai O locals choose to stick with their family members or buddies outside the district before severe weather condition hits, and just go back to Tai O after it has actually passed, there has actually been no lack of shelter area for locals within the Tai O district.
(2) Every year, the IsDO, in partnership with appropriate departments and regional organisations, carries out an inter-departmental workout in Tai O based upon the Emergency Response Plan. The main goal of the workout is to acquaint frontline workers with the rescue procedure. Individuals of the workout consist of 8 federal government departments (Note 1), 4 regional organisations (Note 2), the Tai O Rural Committee, the Lantau Care Team, and a variety of Tai O citizens, amounting to some 250 individuals. Prior to the workout, the IsDO corresponds to all homes and organizations in Tai O to notify them of plans of the workout, confining a summary of the Emergency Response Plan and flood security standards for their referral. Upon the conclusion of the workout, the IsDO right away assembles an inter-departmental debriefing to collect feedback from individuals on the material and plans of the workout, with a view to gaining from the experience for constant improvement of the efficiency of the workout.
(3) Before the arrival of a tropical storm, the IsDO will, in partnership with the Tai O Rural Committee and the Lantau Care Team, share info on hurricane and flood preventive steps to regional citizens and companies. In the afternoon of the day of the abovementioned workout, the IsDO will likewise sign up with hands with pertinent regional organisations to hold a workshop on serious flood readiness for Tai O homeowners. The workshop will discuss the reasons for flooding in Tai O, the preparatory and contingency steps to be taken prior to the arrival of storm rises, and so on, so regarding make it possible for locals to get ready for the upcoming tropical storm season. Details cards setting out the emergency situation contact varieties of appropriate departments and regional organisations will likewise be dispersed to citizens, to guarantee that the homeowners have actually the most upgraded info for accessing support.
Each year, the IsDO likewise shares the list of high-risk senior citizens in Tai O, as assembled and upgraded by the SWD, with the HKPF and the FSD for internal recommendation when carrying out rescue operations. In case of possible major flooding in Tai O, the IsDO will sign up with forces with appropriate federal government departments, regional organisations and Care Teams to carry out a series of contingency steps for the senior on the list. These steps consist of connecting with the senior worried to advise them to stay alert; advising them to look for sanctuary at short-term shelters, transit centres or other safe areas; in addition to helping in raising their furnishings, electrical devices, and so on, with a view to safeguarding their lives and residential or commercial property.
Keep in mind 1: Including the IsDO, the HKPF, the FSD, the CAS, the HKO, the DSD, the SWD and the Housing Department.
Keep in mind 2: Including the Tai O Branch of the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Service Centre, the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai O Community Work Office, the Hong Kong Red Cross, and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College.