The Taoyuan City Government, in cooperation with the Chemicals Administration of the Ministry of Environment, held the 2024–2025 National Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Disaster Prevention and Rescue Drill Review Meeting on September 17. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Environment Hsieh Yen-ju and Taoyuan City Government Secretary-General Wen Tai-hsin. Representatives from central and local disaster response agencies attended, including Prof. Lin Cheng-lin of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Acting Director-General Chen Shu-ling of the Chemicals Administration, and Ho Meng-chou, Advisory Officer of the Executive Yuan’s Office of Disaster Management. Experts provided professional guidance on the drill results. In recognition of Taoyuan’s performance in the exercise, the Ministry of Environment presented certificates of appreciation to Yen Ji-liang, Director-General of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP), and Tai Ming-shan, Senior Technical Specialist of the Fire Department.
Secretary-General Wen noted that, entrusted by the Ministry of Environment, the Taoyuan City Government organized the nationwide chemical disaster drill, which included three stages: symposiums, tabletop exercises, and live drills. More than 700 participants took part, with the scale and outcomes receiving high recognition from central authorities. Taoyuan has 37 industrial parks and the highest number of regulated chemical facilities nationwide, as well as an international airport and extensive logistics and warehousing operations. The city therefore faces high disaster risks. Since 2023, the City has established an interdepartmental task force and advanced amendments to its Fire Prevention Self-government Ordinance. The first phase has already brought nearly 1,000 high-risk sites under management. The second phase covers flammable material storage, illegal dumping grounds, recycling facilities, and waste treatment sites, thereby building a comprehensive source-control network to strengthen risk prevention.
The Executive Yuan’s Office of Disaster Management highlighted that this was the first drill conducted under the framework of “partial alerts, scenario-based, no fixed script, and without compressing the timeline.” The exercise simulated a factory accident scenario, bringing together mutual-aid organizations, a forward command post, and the city-level disaster response center to test coordination, real-time response, and resource allocation. The U.S.-developed ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) chemical dispersion modeling system was used to predict the spread of chlorine leakage, while the Cell Broadcast System (CBS) delivered emergency alerts directly to mobile phones, enabling residents to take immediate shelter. Evaluators recommended that the CBS alerts content and timing be included in the central government’s updated training guidelines. Drawing from this experience, the Executive Yuan will refine future national drill programs to improve overall disaster response effectiveness.
TYDEP emphasized that Taoyuan adheres to the principle of “prevention over response” and continues to strengthen early warning systems and risk management. Building on expert insights from the review meeting, the City will further optimize its disaster response plans, incorporate advanced technologies, and enhance real-time monitoring, precise forecasting, and rapid emergency mechanisms. Through these innovative measures, Taoyuan is positioning itself as a national model for a safe, resilient, and smart disaster-preparedness city, ensuring greater security for its residents.
https://tydep.tycg.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=20088&s=1588398