TaiwanChurchNews 3043 Edition June 21~June 27, 2010

Reported by Lin Yi-ying. Written by Lydia Ma

Heavy rains in the past few days wreaked havoc in parts of Kaohsiung. In view of the fast approaching typhoon season, Taiwan Church News set out to see if areas devastated by Typhoon Morakot last year are already prepared to handle this year’s typhoons.

Our attention turned to Taoyuan Township and LiougueiTownship in KaohsiungCounty, Chialan Village in Taitung County, Alishan in Chiayi County, and Sinyi Township in Nantou County because these areas were the worst hit by Typhoon Morakot.

“Typhoon drills and preventive measures should be the government’s responsibility because churches can only help mobilize material supplies in times of crisis,” said PCT Tsou District Church and Society Committee Chairman Rev. Wang Chih-sheng. His remark shattered once and for all the misperception that local churches are responsible for carrying out rescue operations.

Wang further reported that Alishan Township Office had recently staged a drill and the local PCT-run crisis shelter had already stocked up food and daily supplies just in case. But he underscored that food shortages will most certainly remain a serious problem if roads are destroyed by typhoons again.

According to South Bunun Presbytery, all its churches have checked their generators and other electronic appliances recently to ensure that they’re running properly. The presbytery plans to convene a meeting soon to draft a plan on necessary measures needed to reduce damages inflicted by natural disasters.

East Paiwan Presbytery reported that in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, more than 60 members from various churches under its jurisdiction had received crisis prevention training led by PCT, World Vision, and Chinese Christian Relief Association.