President Ma Ying-jeou on the evening of August 7 attended an event to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating flooding and landslides in parts of southern and eastern Taiwan triggered by Typhoon Morakot. The activity, entitled "Courage, Hope, Restoration, and Rebirth," was sponsored by the Red Cross Society of the ROC and the Morakot Flood Service Alliance.
During a prayer session at the event, President Ma and Premier Wu Den-yih, Vice President of the Red Cross Society Wang Ching-feng, Morakot Flood Service Alliance representative Joyce Yen Feng, and children from Tai-wu Elementary School in Pingtung County, which is located in an area hard hit by the disaster, together moved a sculpture from a mound of earth, which symbolized the danger encountered, to a newly sown plot of grass, representing the cooperation and support among everyone involved, as well as the importance of co-existing with nature. The activity depicted a vision of hope for the future. In a gesture to express his best wishes to the people who live in the areas that were ravaged and have been rebuilt, the president also wrote the following words on a small card: "Love makes memories. Hope makes life soar."
In remarks made to the gathering, President Ma stated that he commemorates the one-year anniversary of the August 8 disaster in a mood of both gratitude and critical reflection. Last year on this day, torrential rains triggered once-in-a-century flooding in parts of Taiwan, with parts of southern and eastern Taiwan hit by three meters of rain over a three-day period, he said, adding that the visitor's center at Mt. Ali was submerged in water two meters deep. The president noted that a total of 699 compatriots were either killed or lost in the catastrophe, while property damage amounted to NT$28 billion. The president said that while the disaster was undoubtedly horrific, the situation brought out the best in the people of Taiwan. He pointed out that 1.12 million soldiers, police, firemen, and volunteers participated in the rescue and relief mission in disaster areas. The military dispatched 560,000 man-missions, while helicopters made over 5,500 trips into disaster areas. The president specially noted that over 140,000 volunteers from private organizations also played a key role in the rescue and relief operations.
President Ma said that the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council was established seven days after the onslaught of the disaster, and the Special Act Governing Reconstruction after Typhoon Morakot was formulated soon thereafter. The act was speedily screened and passed by the Legislative Yuan on August 31. These efforts were crucial to helping nearly 80% of the residents of disaster areas to be resettled within less than one month of the disaster. As of today, the vast majority of transportation links have been restored, and 70% of the 1,180 permanent residences built now have occupants. He added that the permanent dwellings being built by private organizations are also gradually being completed. However, in addition to basic survival needs, people in disaster areas also require emotional support. Since the disaster, the president has continued to consider whether it is possible to reduce losses to a minimum when a disaster strikes. The answer, he said, is "yes." President Ma said that a key element of rescue is disaster preparedness. Residents in dangerous areas should be evacuated from their homes prior to typhoons. "Disaster preparedness should always take priority over rescue," he said, adding that "staying out of harm's way in the first place is the best means of preparedness." This is the way to reduce losses to a minimum, he said. The president explained that 36 hours prior to the arrival of a storm, the military should be ready for all eventualities and have manpower in place. At the same time, the president said he has called on the Executive Yuan to make sure that local governments have implemented a comprehensive disaster warning and notification system. Residents in hazardous areas must be evacuated to safe shelters before a disaster strikes to safeguard the lives and property of the public.
The president stated that he has a very heavy heart today, the anniversary of the August 8 disaster. He said that as he thinks about the 699 victims who died or went missing in the disaster, he feels a deep sense of responsibility. In addition to expressing his deepest condolences, he said he also wants to express his utmost respect and gratitude to the 1.12 million people from the military, police, fire fighting units, the Red Cross Society, and private organizations who were involved in disaster rescue and reconstruction work. The president encouraged the residents of areas being rebuilt as well as the entire populace of the ROC to realize that acts of God happen and that they must be faced. However, everyone must make concerted efforts to mitigate the loss of life and property from disasters, reducing damage and losses to a minimum. Meanwhile, he said that the government must shoulder its responsibility of ensuring the safety of the lives and belongings of the public.