What to do when a typhoon is coming? Taiwan's disaster warning response and home preparation

Living in Taiwan, typhoons are an inevitable weather event. For many foreigners, seeing news constantly reporting on typhoons, receiving alerts on their phones, and witnessing crowds rushing to buy instant noodles and water at supermarkets for the first time might cause some anxiety: Should I go out? Should I stock up on food? Does suspension of work and classes mean it's very dangerous? In reality, before a typhoon arrives, the most important thing is not to panic, but to understand what the alerts mean and to prepare your home before the wind and rain intensify. Understand First: There's More Than One Type of Typhoon Alert Typhoon alerts commonly heard in Taiwan are mainly "Sea Typhoon Warning" and "Land Typhoon Warning." A Sea Typhoon Warning indicates that the typhoon may affect the sea areas near Taiwan. At this point, it doesn't necessarily mean your residence will immediately experience strong winds and heavy rain, but you should start paying attention to news and information from the Central Weather Administration, especially if you have plans for outlying islands, coastal areas, hiking, or long-distance travel. A Land Typhoon Warning is more directly related to daily life. When your county or city is included in the land warning area, it means the impact of wind and rain may be more direct. At this time, you should no longer treat it as ordinary rain, but start confirming arrangements for your home, transportation, work, or school. However, note that whether work and classes are suspended does not entirely equate to danger. Suspension of work and classes is decided by local governments based on wind and rain forecasts, transportation, and local conditions. Even without suspension, mountainous areas, coastal areas, low-lying areas, or places prone to flooding can still be very dangerous. The Day Before the Typhoon: Tidy Up Your Home Before a typhoon arrives, the most practical preparation is usually not buying a lot of things, but tidying up areas at home that might be blown away by the wind, soaked by rain, or affected by power outages. For those living in apartments or studio units, check your balcony first. Clothes racks, potted plants, mops, chairs, trash cans, and storage boxes should all be moved indoors or secured. During a typhoon, these small items can be blown down by strong winds, posing a danger to pedestrians or vehicles below. Also check your windows. Ensure they can be closed tightly and do not place items near the windows that are easily wetted by rain, such as documents, electronics, or extension cords. If your home's windows are prone to leaks, prepare towels, rags, or buckets beforehand, so you don't have to search for them when leaks start in the middle of the night. Residents in ground-floor units, basements, low-lying areas, or flood-prone areas need to prepare even earlier. Important documents, computers, chargers, medications, and valuables should ideally be moved to higher ground. Motorcycles or bicycles should also not be parked in underground parking lots or low-lying areas prone to flooding. Home Disaster Preparedness Kit: Not Extravagant, But Sufficient Common problems during typhoons include power outages, water supply interruptions, suspension of delivery services, transportation disruptions, or the inability to go out temporarily. Your home should have at least a few items prepared. Drinking water, simple food, flashlights, power banks, common medications, copies of your health insurance card or residence permit, and a small amount of cash are very practical preparations. Food doesn't have to be all instant noodles; you can also prepare biscuits, canned goods, bread, ready-to-eat meals, or items that don't require complex cooking. Charge your mobile phone and power bank fully beforehand. If there's a power outage during a typhoon, your phone is not just a communication tool but also an important device for receiving alerts, checking transportation, and contacting family. If your household includes infants, the elderly, individuals with chronic illnesses, or pets, prepare additional items such as formula, diapers, medications, pet food, cleaning supplies, and necessary identification documents. Going out to buy these items during a typhoon is usually much more troublesome than usual. During the Typhoon: Don't Go Out Out of Curiosity When a typhoon hits, the greatest dangers are not just strong winds and heavy rain, but also falling signs, broken branches, flooded roads, rockfalls in mountainous areas, rising river levels, and strong ocean waves. Do not go to the coast, riverbanks, under bridges, or into mountainous areas just to take photos, watch waves, or see floods. Every typhoon, someone thinks, "I'll just go take a look," but when the danger is real, the wind, waves, and water levels do not allow much time for reaction. Motorcyclists should also be especially careful. Riding a motorcycle during a typhoon is dangerous, particularly on bridges, in open roads, underpasses, and flooded sections. The water may not look deep, but there could be potholes, uncovered manholes, or risks of electric shock. If you see standing water, do not try to force your way through. If your phone receives disaster warnings, or if local government, community leaders, or emergency services notify you to evacuate, do not delay because it seems troublesome. This is especially true for those living in hillside areas, debris flow warning zones, along rivers, by the sea, or in low-lying areas; evacuation notices are usually issued because there is a concrete risk, not just a simple reminder. What to Do During Power or Water Outages? During a power outage, use a flashlight first. Do not light many candles indoors, as this increases the risk of fire. Try to open the refrigerator door as little as possible to keep food cool for longer. If the water supply is cut off or the water becomes turbid, be very careful before drinking. It's advisable to prepare some drinking water in advance. Before a typhoon, you can also fill containers with some household water for flushing toilets or simple cleaning. Do not touch outlets, extension cords, or electrical appliances with wet hands. If your home floods, do not rush to plug in or use electrical appliances that have been submerged; it's best to confirm safety first. Where Can Foreigners in Taiwan Get Information? During a typhoon, prioritize checking the typhoon information from the Central Weather Administration, announcements from various county and city governments, information on work and class suspensions, and notifications from your school, company, or dormitory. If you encounter an emergency, such as injury, fire, being trapped, or needing rescue, call 119. For immediate personal safety issues, call 110. For general living information, local reports, or municipal issues, many cities offer the 1999 Citizen Hotline; foreigners can also use the 1990 Helpline for Foreigners in Taiwan for general living assistance. Do not rely solely on screenshots from social media or forwarded messages from friends. During typhoons, fake news, old photos, and incorrect information about work and class suspensions can circulate. For important decisions, it's best to refer back to official announcements for confirmation. After the typhoon leaves, it does not mean the danger has immediately ended. There may still be fallen trees, signs, broken glass, standing water, rockfalls, or damaged power lines on the roads. Before going out, check transportation information. Do not rush to mountainous areas, coastal areas, or riverbanks. Mountain roads may still pose risks of rockfalls or landslides for several days after the typhoon due to loose soil. If your home has flooded or suffered property damage, take photos to document it before cleaning up. Renters should also notify their landlord and keep records of photos, messages, and repairs. Do not clear away all the damage before thinking about applying for repairs or insurance. When encountering a typhoon in Taiwan, there is no need for excessive panic, but do not treat it as ordinary rain either. The most practical sequence is: first check the alerts and the risks in your location, then tidy up balconies and windows, prepare water, food, medications, and a power bank, reduce outdoor activities during the typhoon, and follow instructions when receiving evacuation or warning notices. The true way to protect yourself during a typhoon is not to make decisions when the wind and rain are at their peak, but to get things done before the wind and rain arrive.