To strengthen the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of agricultural irrigation personnel amid the risks posed by extreme weather and human-induced hazards, on April 21, the Irrigation Agency held the “2026 Agricultural Irrigation Disaster Preparedness and Response Drill” at the Xingzhong Water Control Gate in Kaohsiung. Irrigation Agency Director Tsai Sheng-fu and Director of Kaohsiung Management Office (under the Irrigation Agency) Lu Wen-hao took part in the entire process. Through a drill involving actual personnel and site, the drill simulated a range of compound disaster scenarios, comprehensively enhancing on-site emergency response capabilities, interagency coordination, and disaster preparedness and response operation-related performance[u1.1].
The aforementioned drill was coordinated by the Irrigation Agency and conducted by the Kaohsiung Management Office, with participation from local agencies including the Kaohsiung City Police Department, Fire Bureau, and Environmental Protection Bureau as well as maintenance contractors, demonstrating disaster preparedness-oriented collaboration between central and local authorities. The drill covered the following four major types of emergency scenarios[u2.1]: (1) rescuing people who fall into the water during typhoons; (2) handling water pollution incidents caused by the illegal dumping of waste; (3) coordinating emergency response to arson attacks on control rooms; and (4) responding to abnormal pressure in rubber dams that affects the stability of water intake operations.
Director Tsai pointed out that the intensifying effects of climate change, together with human-induced hazards, have made the risks faced by agricultural irrigation facilities increasingly diverse. In addition to improving frontline personnel’s ability to respond to emergencies, the drill also served to verify the effectiveness of standard operating procedures and interagency coordination mechanisms, further elevating overall disaster resilience.
The Irrigation Agency stressed that it will continue to promote smart monitoring, facility maintenance, and disaster preparedness training, combining technology with institutional measures to strengthen the stable operation and risk management capabilities of agricultural irrigation systems, thereby ensuring agricultural irrigation safety and protecting the lives and property of the public.