To improve the efficiency of post-disaster environmental restoration and disinfection operations, the Ministry of Environment and Tainan City Government conducted a “2025 Post-Disaster Environmental Restoration and Disinfection Coordination Drill” on May 22 at the Tainan Convention and Exhibition Center in Guiren District.

The event was attended by Environmental Management Administration Director-General Yen Hsu-Ming and Deputy Director-General Liu Jui-Hsiang, as well as Tainan City Environmental Protection Bureau Director Hsu Jen-Tse. In response to the growing severity of climate change, the drill aimed to strengthen coordination, resource integration, and emergency responses between central and local governments to ensure the rapid recovery of the environment after disasters, thereby protecting public health and safety.

The drill simulated a severe typhoon striking Tainan, resulting in widespread flooding, mass poultry and livestock deaths, and a surge in waste that posed a significant threat to the environment and residents.

The drill was divided into two parts: tabletop simulation and live field exercise. Using the Environmental Management Information System (EMIS), an inter-county support mechanism was activated to rapidly dispatch manpower, cleaning equipment, and disinfection tools from unaffected areas to the disaster zone. The drill showed efficient cross-regional and inter-agency resource integration, command, coordination, and emergency response capabilities. In total, 13 cleaning and disinfection vehicles and 26 professional personnel were mobilized to conduct a full walkthrough of post-disaster cleanup and disinfection procedures.

The exercise served as an on-site test of the system’s feasibility and effectiveness, ensuring that environmental quality in the affected area can be restored in the shortest possible time.

The Ministry of Environment noted that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continue to rise. Post-disaster environmental recovery now requires not only meticulous planning and training but also constant drills to improve real-world readiness.

This exercise not only tested the effectiveness of the coordination system but also reinforced collaborative models between central and local governments, laying a solid foundation for future disaster recovery efforts. The Ministry called on all agencies to continue with routine training, inspect equipment, and make improvements based on issues identified during the drill to ensure immediate and effective response and recovery efforts when disasters occur.

Moving forward, the Ministry of Environment will continue to promote post-disaster restoration and disinfection drills while deepening collaboration with local governments to safeguard the safety of lives, property, and environmental quality for the people of Taiwan.