Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

The Tzu Chi Foundation has set up command and co-ordination centers across Taiwan to help people deal with the impact of Typhoon Nanmadol, which struck the south and east of the island on Sunday afternoon. It is carrying wind speeds of up to 173 kilometres per hour and is affecting first the counties of Pingdung, Taitung, and Hualien, where the foundation has its headquarters. There it has set up a disaster prevention command centre. Master Cheng Yen is paying close attention to the situation and urged Tzu Chi volunteers and the general public to be on high alert. She asked everyone to prepare for the typhoon and care for their neighbors.

The army has deployed 2,800 military personnel and 160 vehicles at 42 locations in southern Taiwan to move people out of vulnerable areas. Domestic and international flight schedules are being disrupted and the Forestry Bureau has announced that all of its forest parks were closed.

At all Tzu Chi branch offices in Taiwan, volunteers are following the typhoon's movements carefully and preparing relief goods -- including packs of daily necessities, bottled water, instant rice and instant noodles. On the early morning of August 28, the volunteers prayed together that there would be no disasters. In Hualien, they brought goods to temporary shelters for residents whose houses are located on low-lying terrain. They also sent goods to Yilan and Taidung counties as a precaution.

On August 28, the last musical adaptation of the Water Repentance, a Buddhist scripture, was held in the Sports Stadium in Changhua County. Master Cheng Yen watched a live broadcast in the Jing Si Hall in Changhua. She recalled that, 20 years ago, she gave a speech to promote environmental protection for the first time: "Then and today we were both spreading the Dharma. But now there are ten of thousands of people who share the same kind heart. The power of goodness is much stronger." She asked that everyone take precautions ahead of Typhoon Nanmadol and prayed sincerely that it would cause no damage.

During the period of the typhoon, Tzu Chi disaster preventive coordination centers around Taiwan will be on stand-by 24 hours a day. They will provide the aid needed, as circumstances dictate. If you need to, please contact the disaster preventive command center at 03-8059966, 03-8059966, ext: 373, 374, or 590.