This year’s rainy season has been marked by continuous heavy rain, with the Observatory issuing five Black Rainstorm warnings within 17 days, breaking the record for the highest number of such a warning in a year.
Coupled with Super Typhoon Ragasa, Chan Wai-tak, Regional Highway Engineer of the Highways Department, described this year as one filled with extreme weather.
He said that the department has employed three key strategies – prevention, emergency response and post-disaster recovery to address extreme weather impacts.
“We hope to minimize disruptions and financial losses for the public as quickly as possible once the rain and typhoon subside,” he said.
Maintenance Engineer of the Department Minnie Chan Wai-yin said the department has four emergency control centers. When the Observatory issues typhoon signal No 8 or higher, the Red or Black Rainstorm warning or the Landslip Warning, the department will promptly activate the centers to handle urgent road incidents.
She noted the emergency control centers in urban areas and the New Territories were activated 12 times this year. During Super Typhoon Ragasa, nearly 200 emergency teams, comprising over 1,000 staff and contractors, were deployed to deal with road blockages caused by flooding or fallen trees.
The emergency centers operate around the clock during adverse weather to gather information and coordinate with various departments to manage the urgent road incidents. Nine road maintenance contractors are also on standby at about 50 locations across the city.
