Disaster Risk Reducation Education

Typhoon Nalgae made its landfall in the Philippines on October 29, 2022, causing serious casualties and property losses. Although this typhoon had no direct impact on the Republic of China (R.O.C. Taiwan), there was extreme rainfall caused by the outer circulation of the typhoon. The torrential rain led to a landslip on the Sun Yat-sen Freeway, southbound of the Xizhi area on November 1. As a great amount of mud and rocks was flushed down onto the road, it resulted in road closures and traffic control that lasted for days, affecting commuters and passengers passing through the section. Therefore, this event should raise our awareness of the changes of the environment after heavy rain, as well as remind us of the importance of water and soil conservation.

As the R.O.C (Taiwan) has many hills and steep terrain areas, hillside disasters are very common. Thus, living on this island, we should understand and prevent as best as we can these kinds of events. The contents of this issue start from introducing debris flow disasters, then discussing the matter of large-scale landslides. We invited the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, to write about the characteristics and signs of debris flow disasters, to build up people’s sensitivity regarding debris flow disasters in their surrounding area, as well as set up contingency measures and evacuation plans through various warning systems.

In terms of the issue of debris flow disasters, Bei Da Elementary School, Sanxia District, New Taipei City, takes heed to cultivate the safety awareness of disaster prevention, by taking “Water and Soil Conservation” as the core of safety promotion. In addition to campus situational planning and education promotion, the school focuses on curriculum design that guides their students to care about and respect the conservation of water and soil resources.

Disaster Risk Reduction Education (DRRE) has been established in schools for students since an early age. With correlated channels of various publicity and promotion in different areas, DRRE will be popularized, becoming a part of our daily life. Students who are the Youth Envoys for DRRE have brought forward efficient ways to promote DRRE, as well as presenting them on campuses and in communities.

At Dong Jyu Elementary School, Jinguang Township, Lienchieng County, the Youth Envoys for DRRE were also part of a four-day “Island Survival” Disaster Risk Reduction Summer Camp. During the camp, Dong Jyu Elementary School and Lienchieng County Disaster Risk Reduction Education guidance groups planned plenty of content with extensive information, as well as interesting and challenging activities to lead the students to explore the concept and skills of ocean and wilderness survival, as well as fire evacuation, to develop their spirit of disaster prevention, becoming a new force for disaster prevention in Matsu.