Morakot post-disaster reconstruction management using public and private resources for disaster prevention and relief efforts

Abstract

Typhoon Morakot that struck on 8 August 2009 caused major traumas and serious landslides. Under the principle of the government’s land conservation and disaster prevention, reconstruction commenced in stages in accordance with the reconstruction plan. Additionally, the post-disaster reconstruction experience following the earthquake that hit on 21 September 1999 served as a reference for quickly determining reconstruction policies, setting up laws, allocating budgets, establishing organizations, and drafting reconstruction programs. By respectful, efficient, and innovative means, flexible methods were adopted for the reconstruction in order to face the complex and unpredictable natural disasters and post-disaster social responses. Two years after the reconstruction began, fruitful results have been accumulated. For example, before the Lunar New Year of 2012, 3045 permanent houses located in 30 areas were completed, with more than 10,000 beneficiaries. Based on the Morakot post-disaster experience, in order to effectively respond to disaster prevention, disaster relief, and reconstruction after major disasters, an efficient social management system should be developed to integrate the government, NGOs, and enterprises’ disaster prevention and relief and reconstruction capabilities as well as consolidate the idea that ‘disaster prevention is more important than disaster relief; moving away from disasters is more important than disaster prevention’ as an early response measure for disaster prevention and protection.