DSD prepares for typhoon season with upgraded flood prevention measures

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has completed the majority of 120 small-scale drainage improvement projects as part of a series of preparatory measures to enhance the city's resilience against the upcoming typhoon season next month.

The DSD said they have stepped up identification measures and inspections at 220 locations prone to flooding. 

The emergency response teams have also been expanded to 160 units, with operational bases increasing to over 30. 

At the heavily affected districts in last year's severe rainstorm - such as Wong Tai Sin and Chai Wan - the department has installed smart float-type water level sensors in over 39 suitable stormwater manholes to monitor the water levels in the drainage system on a 24-hour basis.

The director of Drainage Services Ringo Mok Wing-cheong said that after installing the smart sensors, the two districts have not reported any flooding during the two Red Rainstorm Signals this month. 

He also mentioned that the DSD has updated the design rainfall parameters in its Stormwater Drainage Manual to account for the heavy rainfall levels recorded during the severe rainstorm in September last year, believing that it will help mitigate the risk of flooding in the city.

The department plans to pilot an AI-based flood monitoring system in Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui later this year to collect and analyze real-time imagery data to monitor flood conditions.