Climate and Natural Disasters

Typhoon Cleanup Volunteer Numbers May Dwindle As Long Weekend Ends

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By Hank Hsu/Leslie Liao

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Volunteers have crowded into Guangfu Township in Eastern Taiwan's Hualien County to help with typhoon and flood cleanup efforts. But as a three-day holiday weekend draws to a close, there's concerns that their numbers may dwindle, which could impact recovery in the area.

Typhoon Ragasa Cleanup Efforts Continue in Taiwan

 

REPORTER:

One week after Typhoon Ragasa slammed into Taiwan, cleanup efforts are still underway in the country. The strongest storm of the year killed at least 18 people according to authorities. Strong floods surged into Guangfu Township in Eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County after a lake in the mountains above overflowed from heavy rains.

 

REPORTER:

Bulldozers, brooms and shovels. Volunteers are using anything at their disposal to clear debris from a blocked off road. Many of them have come from other parts of the country to help out.

 

BITE:

I came from Changhua.  

The car ride over here yesterday took about 8 hours.

 

REPORTER:

But after long journeys to get here, volunteers face rigorous work and difficult conditions.

 

BITE:

My foot blistered after rubbing up in my rainboots.  

I can’t really walk.  

Many people have wounds.  

Scrapes, abrasions, cuts.  

Then there are people with sprains from shoveling too hard.  

As far as internal injuries go  

many are suffering from the heat.

 

REPORTER:

With more volunteers arriving, some are questioning how they’re being allocated.

 

BITE:

Some [areas] have said that they received fewer volunteers.  

Recovery in those places are slower.

 

REPORTER:

But time is ticking on the support these volunteers are bringing. Many of them have come over a long holiday weekend to help out. But many will need to return home for work on Tuesday.

 

BITE:

I’m going home [Monday].  

(So you were here for the long weekend?)  

Yeah.

 

REPORTER:

There’s concern here that once this weekend’s volunteers head back home, there won’t be enough helping hands needed to dig this town out of the mud and get it back on its feet.

 

REPORTER:

But with the military also helping with recovery efforts. The goal is to have everything cleaned up by the first weekend in October.

 

Hank Hsu and Leslie Liao for TaiwanPlus.

 

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Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Eastern Taiwan Recovering

 

REPORTER:

One week after Typhoon Ragasa slammed into Taiwan, cleanup efforts are still underway in the country. The strongest storm of the year killed at least 17 people according to authorities. Strong floods surged through Hualien County in Eastern Taiwan after a barrier lake overflowed from heavy rains.

 

REPORTER:

Bulldozers, brooms and shovels. Volunteers use anything at their disposal to clear debris from a blocked off road. Many of them have come from other parts of the country to help this struggling part of Taiwan.

 

BITE:

I came from Changhua. The car ride over here yesterday took about 8 hours.

 

REPORTER:

But, volunteers don’t just face potential long journeys, they also face rigorous and difficult conditions.

 

BITE:

My foot blistered after rubbing up against my rainboots.  

I can’t really walk.  

Many people are suffering external wounds.  

Scrapes, abrasions, cuts.  

Then there are people spraining themselves from shoveling too hard.  

As far as internal injuries go, many are suffering from the heat.

 

REPORTER:

Many volunteers have arrived at this pivotal time moment, but there’s been questions about their allocation.

 

BITE:

Some [areas] have said that they received fewer volunteers.  

Recovery in those places are slower.

 

REPORTER:

But, time is ticking on the blessing of help these volunteers are bringing. Many of them have come over a long weekend to help out. Those people will have to return home as they’re expected to go back to work on Tuesday.

 

BITE:

I’m going home [Monday]  

(So you were here for the long weekend?)  

Yeah

 

REPORTER:

There’s concern here that once the volunteers leave, their numbers will continue to drop. But President Lai Ching-te has already ordered the military to help with recovery. The goal is to have everything cleaned up by the first weekend in October.