HONG KONG: Tai O residents were able to escape major losses during the passage of tropical cyclone Koppu Monday night, thanks to lessons learned from serious flooding last year.

However, for all of the new precautions there was still some flood damage in the area.

Soon after the No 8 signal was hoisted, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a warning that the typhoon posed a potential threat of flooding to low-lying areas, especially in Tai O on Lantau Island.

Seawater began flowing back, causing flooding in Tai O around 2 am. Residents said the maximum water level reached as high as five feet.

Approximately 100 households and stores were affected by the storm. Particularly hard hit were shops along Wing On Street. The street is one the lowest-lying parts of Tai O. Shop owners and residents were out yesterday, working busily to clear the mess.

A dried seafood shop put its most expensive goods on top shelves Monday but the owner said the flood still created a loss of about HK$10,000.

A dessert store owner kept his machinery clear of contact with seawater to prevent damages.

"In regard of the experience last year, we know what we should do this time," said the owner.

Tai O was devastated by typhoon Hagupit last September. The storm caused flooding which cut off electricity and disrupted transportation to the island. More than 200 households suffered the worst flooding in the past 60 years.

After that, an emergency command center was jointly set up by the Islands District Office, police, Fire Services Department and the Tai O Rural Committee office to coordinate relief efforts for residents during bad weather.

Under a flood alert system specially designed for Tai O, the rescue plan is activated when the actual seawater level reaches 3 mCD, a benchmark that indicates a flow back of seawater.

Officers from the concerned departments and Civil Aid Services were deployed to offer help and evacuation to residents late Monday.

They helped about 10 residents to move to safety at the two temporary shelters in the Tai O Rural Committee office and the former Wing Chor Primary School.

Islands District Officer Byron Lam Saint-kit said he believed the precautionary measures effectively minimized losses from Typhoon Koppu.

"We aim at notifying the residents the soonest possible to protect their property and lives," he said.

The government will build a river wall, three meters high, at Yat Chung in Tai O. The work will begin in mid-2010 and be completed by 2011.

Lam expected the river wall to alleviate the flooding problem in Wing On Street.

Lou Cheuk Wing, vice chairman of Tai O Rural Committee, urged the government to stick to its plan to commence the project next year as promised.

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/16/2009 page1)