->A series of activities around the National Disaster Preparedness Day were rolled out. LIU Shyh-fang: With the unpredictable outcome of earthquake disasters, the populaces were called on for better earthquake preparedness.

Today (on 2024/09/05), at the Internal Affairs Meeting of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), a briefing on "National Disaster Preparedness Day -- Series Activities" was made by the National Fire Agency (NFA). Instructed by Minister LIU Shyh-fang of the Interior (MOI), according to the simulated disaster scenario for the 2024 National Disaster Preparedness Day, presumptively an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale were to strike 23.5 kilometers east of the Chiayi County Government in Zhuchi Township of Chiayi County, mainly affecting western Taiwan. In this simulated earthquake, severe disaster scenarios were seen such as building collapses and casualties in various places. The National Fire Agency (NFA) was requested to properly plan the mobilization preparation proposal involving relevant central ministries/ councils and local governments, and to conduct the “Large-Scale Earthquake Disaster Relief and Mobilization Exercise” from 2024/09/18 to 2024/09/20, involving over 1,000 people mobilized from disaster relief forces across the country, so as to verify the feasibility of various disaster relief dispatch plans and strengthen Taiwan’s resilience to earthquake disasters.

Reminded by Minister LIU, at 09:21 on 2024/09/20, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) would also simultaneously send a "national alert" message to the entire public across the country, in line with the simulated earthquake scenario. Upon receiving the earthquake alert sound and alert text message on their mobile phones, the populaces are requested to act out the 3 life-saving steps "Drop – Cover - Hold on" in line with the simulated earthquake scenario. At 10:00 on 2024/09/20, the cellular broadcast system (CBS) for disaster prevention alarm and the air raid alerting system are utilized to issue tsunami warnings to coastal populaces. From 10:59 to 11:01 on 2024/09/20, all TV channels would automatically switch to Public Television System (PTS, i.e. Channel # 13), to synchronously broadcast disaster messages. Through drills such as message issuance, alert and warning broadcast, and channel switching, the populaces are allowed to receive disaster emergency messages from diverse channels in a timely manner during disasters.

As indicated by the National Fire Agency (NFA) during its briefing, in line with the Executive Yuan’s series activities for the National Disaster Preparedness Day this year (2024) particularly due to the "25th anniversary of the 921 Earthquake this year (2024), from 2024/09/01 to 2024/10/31, in addition to organizing an international seminar, various disaster prevention and relief activities are to be rolled out, including "Large-Scale Disaster Relief and Mobilization Exercise", "Major Disaster Emergency Alert Message Broadcasting Drill", and "Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Issuance Drill", to verify the effectiveness of our existing disaster relief capacity while enhancing Taiwan’s disaster prevention and response capabilities. Synchronously, publicity activities on disaster prevention are organized, including "National Numerous disaster publicity activities are organized, including “National Disaster Preparedness Day - Publicity Activities on Earthquake Disaster Prevention" and "disaster prevention blocks set up at various shopping places and on online platforms".

Emphasized by Minister LIU, with the unpredictable outcome of earthquake disasters, the populaces were called on for better earthquake preparedness. It is hoped that the populaces could actively participate in the drills and activities related to the National Disaster Preparedness Day, getting themselves familiar with the procedures for responding to sudden disasters, and enhancing their awareness of disaster prevention, so that damage could be reduced and safety could be ensured during disaster.