|
Although not as frequent as typhoons, heavy rains, and floods, earthquakes are more deadly when they occur because of their unpredictability. Examples are plenty, such as the 1999 Ji-Ji earthquake. There is an old saying─Everything succeeds with proper planning, and fails without. This study examines the emergency response of local governments when facing major earthquakes. This study first reviewed the emergency response experience of the Nantou County government during the 921 Ji-Ji earthquake, and analyzed the early strategy of the emergency response centers of local governments (municipalities, citied, and counties) to establish the relationship between the rescue strategy and the disaster development after major earthquakes. This study also proposed operating procedures for local governments─the “Standard Operating Procedures of Establishing Earthquake Emergency Response Centers” and the “Emergency Disaster Rescue Plan Immediately after Major Earthquakes.” Also, this study drew on the experience of the Taipei City government of its handling of the 331 earthquake to provide other local governments a guideline to draft their own earthquake response plans to properly carry out emergency rescue operations. The overall goal is to equip the local governments with proper training and preparedness so that when major earthquakes come, the resulting loss could be minimized and human lives save
|