Inter-departmental emergency monitoring mechanism activated to respond to Typhoon Nida
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On the present forecast track by the Hong Kong Observatory, Nida will be rather close to Hong Kong tonight (August 1) to tomorrow morning. There will be squalls, heavy rain and rough seas. Flooding may occur in low-lying areas. The storm surge brought by Typhoon Nida, coupled with the high tides in the morning on Tuesday, will pose a higher risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Members of the public should complete all precautionary measures as soon as possible.
The Government has established a contingency plan to respond to the threats of typhoon. The Fire Services Department, the Police and other departments have taken suitable measures and deployment to handle the threats brought by Typhoon Nida. The Security Bureau has alerted all emergency rescue teams and relevant departments to get prepared for the typhoon.
The Home Affairs Department’s emergency hotline (2835 1473) has been activated for public enquiries on the typhoon. Temporary shelters operated by District Offices will be open for people in need. The public are advised to call the hotline for more details. The Social Welfare Department will activate the Emergency Co-ordination Centre and five emergency relief teams (including one on the Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and three in the New Territories) are ready for deployment in an emergency.
The Drainage Services Department has inspected flooding black spots, checked and cleaned drainages to ensure they are in good working conditions. The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department is closely monitoring the weather and road conditions to obtain the most updated information. If necessary, it will escalate its operation to a higher level for better co-ordination of the public transport and formulation of suitable transport contingency plan.
The Education Bureau has contacted schools located in areas prone to the threat of flooding and slopes to remind them of closely monitoring the weather condition and taking precautionary measures. If necessary, they are advised to activate contingency plans to ensure the safety of their staff and students. The Education Bureau will be in close contacts with schools to provide suitable support.
Depending on the prevailing situation, the Security Bureau may escalate the emergency response level and activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre for better co-ordination of resource and preparation of all departments.
The Government will closely monitor the movement of Typhoon Nida as well as weather condition, and issue relevant warning promptly. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest information on the typhoon from the Hong Kong Observatory.
Ends/Monday, August 1, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:59
Issued at HKT 20:59
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