Disaster Risk Reducation Education

It has been 7 years since the first publication of The Disaster Risk

Reduction Education Follow Me newsletter in 2017. This edition presents

basic knowledge about common disasters in a clear and straightforward

manner, accommodating modern reading habits. By delving into their

multiple aspects such as trivia, historical documentation, and follow-up

questions, we hope to raise public awareness of these common disasters.

This issue focuses on typhoons, which are among the Republic of China’s

(R.O.C., Taiwan) most common and significant natural disasters in

previous years. Typhoons are one of the tropical cyclones, a phenomenon

in tropical and subtropical regions. When significant amounts of water

evaporate at sea surface temperatures above 26.5°C, a depression is made,

and with the effects of the Earth's rotation and atmospheric circulation, a

depression eventually intensifies into a typhoon. Landslides, floods, and

rainstorms are frequently caused as results of typhoons and the hazards

they offer, and the considerable threat they pose to lives and property.

People have become accustomed to them and are thus less aware of the

dangers.

There are five accessible articles in this issue that cover typhoon-related

topics you may not be familiar with. In order to increase public awareness

of typhoons and preventive measures, the first few articles examine the

causes of typhoons, the possible aftermaths they may cause, and reaction

strategies. The subsequent articles review five of the most impactful

typhoons in the R.O.C., Taiwan’s history, using specific examples of

damage to raise awareness about the dangers and destruction typhoons can

cause. One such example is the landfall of typhoon Gaemi on July 25th of

this year in the county of Yilan, which happens to be the same place a

2006 typhoon of the same name made landfall. Why are there repeated

names? This newsletter explains the rules of typhoon naming.

Additionally, despite being in an active typhoon zone, the R.O.C., Taiwan

experienced no typhoon landfalls from 2019 to 2023. What caused this,

and how has it affected our lives? Finally, the last article in this issue takes

a cultural perspective, exploring how typhoons are depicted in Taiwanese

legends and Western mythology.