Good communication and lessons learned spared Hong Kong worst of Super Typhoon Saola, some say, but others maintain city got lucky
- Responses after Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 helped to minimise impact of Saola, lawmakers say
- Some residents and district representatives say luck as well as good management played part in relatively low damage levels
Improved communication and good preparation by the Hong Kong government lessened the impact of Super Typhoon Saola, some have said, but residents and meteorologists argued that the city was only spared major damage because the storm weakened before it hit land.
Lawmakers on Saturday attributed the relatively light damage from Saola to effective communication and preparation work by the government, which gave people enough time to prepare for high winds and storm surges in flood-prone areas.
“The government has played its part well in coordinating its various departments. I believe frontline departments would also be more anxious with high-level supervision, hence solving problems faster when they arose,” Gary Chan Hak-kan, chairman of the Legislative Council’s security panel, told the Post.
Chan added that the earlier start to damage limitation work, as well as effective communication with the public, was a good reference point for the future, especially the practice of giving advance warnings for storm signals.
“External messaging has also made citizens treat the typhoon seriously and be more careful when taking precautionary measures, reducing accidents in the process,” he said.
