The government yesterday outlined upcoming urban resilience drills to be conducted during the Han Kuang exercises, which would combine air raid, evacuation and traffic control measures across public transportion, shopping centers and government sites.
The urban resilience drills would combine the Wanan air defense and Minan disaster prevention exercises, the Ministry of National Defense said during a news conference yesterday.
The briefing provided details on the drill schedule, locations and control measures to enhance public understanding and cooperation, and enable citizens to familiarize themselves with the necessary actions to take during air raids and other emergency situations.
Photo: Taipei Times
Daily consumer sites, such as retail stores, would temporarily suspend their activities during air defense exercises in their area, and employees would guide the public to take shelter nearby, All-out Defense Mobilization Office Director Chu Sen-tsuen (朱森村) said.
Relief station drills, designed to temporarily shelter people displaced by enemy airstrikes, would be organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and focus on registration, calming the public and providing basic care, Chu said.
To encourage broad public participation, while minimizing disruptions to daily life, air defense exercises at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport would involve arriving passengers, but not those waiting to depart, he said.
Due to the large size of the airport, both civilian defense groups and airport personnel would assist in guiding people to evacuate and ensure cooperation with the exercise, he added.
During air defense exercises, all members of the public within designated zones are required to participate in evacuation and traffic control measures, he said.
Cities and counties would each select three administrative areas for focused drills, requiring residents in those areas to enter air raid shelters, Chu said.
Joint Operations Planning Division Director Major General Tung Chi-hsing (董冀星) said that military exercises are tailored to address specific threats, with each unit assigned drills based on its role.
As enemy forces are likely to target Taoyuan airport and other key airports, these would be included in the exercises with ground and air forces participating, Tung said.
The Ministry of the Interior said that the urban resilience drills in Taipei, Taichung and Tainan would integrate “all-out defense mobilization, air defense and critical infrastructure protection” exercises.
The drills would be condensed into a single day to conduct integrated practical exercises aimed at enhancing local governments’ emergency response capabilities, the Ministry of the Interior said.
During the drills, air raid alerts would be broadcast through television, radio, community and school networks, police patrol cars and mobile phone alerts, which would include a link to nearby air raid shelters, it said.
Drivers who hear an air raid alert should remain calm and follow the instructions of police and civil defense personnel regarding control of people and vehicles, it added.
Everyone within the drill areas, including government agencies, companies, organizations and the public, must comply with control measures and participate in the exercises.
Those who do not comply would be fined from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 25 of the Civil Defense Act (民防法), the ministry said.
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