The Executive Yuan said on June 14 that all of the permanent housing units completed in Typhoon Morakot post-disaster reconstruction projects withstood the torrential downpours that brought widespread flooding to Taiwan this past week. The reconstruction projects, which began in 2009 after Morakot lashed the island, have yielded many other positive results in terms of community, infrastructure and industrial restoration.
During the recent rainstorms, 5,422 residents in Morakot reconstruction areas were evacuated to temporary shelters. People living in permanent housing units, however, were spared the stresses of leaving their homes and could even shelter relatives and friends. The government also made evacuation and relocation logistics easier, reducing the need and cost of supply airdrops during rescue operations.
Reconstruction efforts have been moving at full speed over the past three years, the Executive Yuan said. In community rebuilding, the government has provided 216.5 hectares of land, simplified administrative procedures, and worked with nongovernmental organizations to build new homes for disaster victims. So far, 3,213 housing units have been constructed in 36 locations, benefiting more than 10,000 people. And of the 1,145 schools damaged by the typhoon, 1,139 have been restored.
In infrastructure restoration, 97 percent of projects are complete. More than 239 million cubic meters of mud and debris have been dredged from rivers and streams, and the dredging will continue. All river, soil and water conservation, and forest reconstruction projects are finished. Provincial Highway 18 has been opened to large buses, the Alishan Forest Railway's Shenmu and Zhushan lines are operational again, and the Taimali River has been rehabilitated. Major construction projects such as Jiaxian Bridge, Qishan Bridge, Liugui Bridge, Xinfa Bridge, Dongpu's Sun Moon bridges and Shuangyuan Bridge have all been completed.
As for industrial rebuilding, the government has provided guidance to agricultural, tourism, local specialty, indigenous specialty, and cultural and creative businesses. Eight demonstration sites targeting industrial reconstruction have been established. A total of 492 hectares of damaged farmland have been restored for cultivation. A "Pulami task force" has been formed to assist with business development within the permanent housing communities, convening more than 30 meetings thus far. Various employment services have provided 265,000 job opportunities. Local agricultural produce and specialties sales have been held, and tourism in restored areas is being promoted to stimulate local economies.
To speed up unfinished projects and in the interest of the well-being of typhoon victims, the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council passed a motion on May 16 to extend reconstruction efforts by two years. During that period, the Special Act Governing Reconstruction After Typhoon Morakot will be applicable to unfinished projects to simplify administrative procedures. The extension will enable Kaohsiung City, for example, to continue selecting relocation sites and finish building permanent houses at the "38 Jia" site in Taoyuan District.