Taiwan held its annual National Disaster Prevention Day drills on Monday, sending a test earthquake alert to phones nationwide at 9:21 a.m., and President 
Lai Ching-te inspected a drill at a Kaohsiung special-education school. The Central Weather Administration's alert, which the Taipei Times reported simulated an early earthquake warning, told people across Taiwan to "drop, cover and hold on" for one minute.
What else did the drill involve? Schools at all levels held simultaneous earthquake evacuation drills, and coastal residents received a tsunami warning test at 9:30 a.m., with an all-clear issued at 10 a.m., PTS reported. The public was reminded to check home emergency go-bags and plans for contacting and regrouping with family and friends. On the 27th anniversary of the 921 earthquake, the weather administration's Seismological Center reminded people that real alerts would not carry the word "drill" and urged them to take shelter quickly.
What happened at the Kaohsiung school? The drill simulated students being struck by falling objects after a strong quake, setting off a mass-casualty evacuation procedure, PTS reported. The injured were treated and carried on stretchers, while lighter cases were bandaged at an aid station, with triage sorting casualties quickly. At the same time, the whole school evacuated to the sports field, where students in protective head covers sat in the open in case of aftershocks and teachers helped those with limited mobility out safely.
What did Lai say? Lai, who was accompanied by Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) and Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lee Huai-jen (李懷仁), said he had asked this year to see whether special-school students were well cared for, CNA reported. "After seeing it, I am reassured. They did great," he said. Drills are hard work even at ordinary schools, let alone special schools, he said, adding that teachers moved students to safety the moment the alarm sounded and the realistic triage showed full preparation. He thanked Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) and the city government for their attention to special education.
How was the broadcast system tested? Cable television systems were switched at 10:59 a.m. to the channel of PTS, which reported the move tested breaking into programming with disaster information. Lai delivered pre-recorded disaster-prevention remarks through television channel switching and radio cut-ins, in an interruption lasting a minute and a half, Liberty Times reported. The exercise simulated issuing accurate information in a major sudden disaster so people could quickly grasp the situation and their next steps.
Figures referenced: Lai Ching-te. — JudgeMarket.
