Recently, Henan has encountered rare extreme heavy rainfall, causing heavy casualties and property losses. The background wind "fireworks" landed in Zhejiang again, hitting Shanghai, Jiangsu and other places, flooding many areas, which made people start to pay attention to typhoons, heavy rainfall, etc. extreme weather.
Compared with most areas in the mainland, Hong Kong, which is hoisting the "Typhoon Signal No. 8" almost every year, is undoubtedly a coastal city on the front line of typhoons.
On August 4, Hong Kong once again suspended the "Typhoon Signal No. 3", which was the second "Typhoon Signal No. 3" this year.
As for torrential rains, Hong Kong has issued 18 "yellow rains", 3 "red rains" and 1 "black rain" so far this year.
It is precisely because of this that Hong Kong people have long learned how to live with typhoons and heavy rainfall.
The sky over Victoria Harbour before the typhoon hit on June 13, 2020.
Photo by Zhang Wei
What kind of ball is "Wind Ball" and what is "Wind Fake"
Where is "Typhoon Signal No. 8" hanging?
Is it by the sea?
Are there "Typhoon Signal No. 5" and "Typhoon Signal No. 6"?
The reporter has heard many questions from outsiders who do not understand "jargon".
The "typhoon" is not a real ball, but a signal of strong wind. The "typhoon" issued by the Observatory is only No. 1, No. 3, No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10. Their official names are the No. 1 alert signal, No. 3 strong wind signal, No. 8 gale or storm signal (divided into four types: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest), No. 9 gale or storm wind enhancement signal, and No. 10 hurricane signal.
As for yellow rain, red rain, and black rain, they respectively represent rainstorm warning signals. The black rain level is the highest, which means that torrential rain with an hourly rainfall exceeding 70 mm has been recorded or is expected in a wide area of Hong Kong, and the rain may continue.
The above-mentioned weather warnings can be said to be known to everyone in Hong Kong from the 90s to the three-year-old children. The reason is that they are so common and closely related to life.
Before 2002, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a tropical cyclone warning signal in the form of a hanging signal, commonly known as "typhoon".
The picture shows the "Typhoon Signal No. 8" signal.
Photo by Zhang Wei
In Hong Kong, most people have an application called "Hong Kong Observatory" in their mobile phones, which will instantly push various weather warnings issued by the Observatory, such as rainstorm warning signals and hot weather warnings.
You may ask, why pay attention to the weather?
Because it gave rise to a new holiday, it was nicknamed "Wind Holiday"-according to the "Code of Practice under Typhoon and Rainstorm Warning" issued by the Labour Department, the "typhoon signal" and black rainstorm warning were issued on the 8th, 9th or 10th. When effective, employers should not require employees to go to work.
At the same time, when the "Typhoon Ball" No. 8 or above is hoisted, most public transportation vehicles will stop serving, including buses, subway surface sections, ferries, etc., while shops in shopping malls will be closed, theme parks will be closed, and all schools will be closed. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is closed.
Even if you haven't downloaded the "Hong Kong Observatory" application software, it doesn't matter, because you can see the posted weather warning notices in various public places including subways, shopping malls, residential buildings, hospitals and other places, which is almost "all weather, full coverage".
On September 15, 2018, in order to prevent the upcoming super typhoon "Mangosteen", a shopping mall in Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong put tape on the glass door.
Photo by Zhang Wei
In the past four years since 2018, Hong Kong has experienced "Typhoon Signals" of No. 8 or above, including "Mangosteen", "Weipa", "Hygos" and "Nangka". Among them, the "Mangosteen" in September 2018 is the most powerful. , "Typhoon Signal No. 10" hung high for 10 hours.
These typhoons and even hurricanes often blow down the trees on the seafront, and the sea water will overturn the bricks. Therefore, Hong Kong people have become accustomed to repairing the bricks on the seaside once a year. Blow over, and try to fix it...
What's the secret of Hong Kong to carry the wind and rain?
Effective early warning mechanism
Preventing trouble before it happens is an extremely important thing for Hong Kong in the face of a disaster.
Take the "Typhoon Signal No. 10" in 2018 as an example. When "Mangosteen" was still more than 2,000 kilometers away from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory had warned that "Mangosteen" was more destructive than previous typhoons and called on the SAR government and citizens to take precautions as soon as possible.
Subsequently, the SAR government held inter-departmental meetings on the 12th and 14th, involving about 30 policy bureaus and departments, preparing for the three aspects of prevention, response, and aftermath.
When the "Typhoon Signal No. 3" was issued by the Observatory, the SAR government had activated the emergency monitoring and support center and 48 temporary shelters to arrange buses to evacuate residents of the separated islands.
On September 16, 2018, when a strong typhoon "Mangkhut" struck Hong Kong, notices were posted at subway stations to remind passengers that some railways and buses would stop service.
Photo by Zhang Wei
Conscientious frontline staff
Whenever a typhoon rages, Hong Kong will have enough frontline rescuers to stick to their posts to ensure public safety.
Workers cleaning trees, police patrol cars, and ambulances are active on the streets.
Complete infrastructure
Complete infrastructure is also a major guarantee for Hong Kong to survive repeated typhoons, so that communication, power supply, and water supply can be maintained in various regions. The MTR can continue to provide limited services.
Take the flooding situation as an example. The powerful drainage and flood storage system makes this happen only in some areas in Hong Kong.
The Drainage Services Department of the Special Administrative Region Government has been continuously upgrading the flood control system since its establishment.
For example, the Happy Valley Underground Flood Storage Project completed in October 2017 provides a flood storage tank with a capacity of 60,000 cubic meters, equivalent to 24 standard swimming pools, which can help the surrounding area withstand heavy rains.
According to data from the Drainage Services Department, Hong Kong's "flooding black spots", namely areas prone to flooding, dropped from 90 in 1995 to 6 in 2018.
And these six black spots have also started drainage improvement projects one after another.
On the morning of August 19, 2020, affected by the typhoon "Hygos", the Hong Kong Stock Exchange announced the suspension of trading in the stock market on the same day.
Photo by Zhang Wei
Citizens are accustomed and orderly
Before and after the storm, the whole city of Hong Kong was in a familiar state of high security.
The reporter once visited the fishing village of Tai O on the outlying island on the eve of the typhoon "Mangosteen" and saw the villagers skilfully fasten outdoor trash cans to telephone poles or stone pillars with ropes, and wrap low-voltage distribution boxes with waterproof films.
At that time, the Hong Kong Observatory had hoisted the "Typhoon Signal No. 3" and the sea had seen wind and waves. Should it be time to evacuate?
The villagers calmly shook their hands for three consecutive times, "What are you afraid of, the seawater can't reach your thighs, so that's fine." Looking in the direction of her fingers, the whole house, refrigerators and other electrical appliances have been placed on the high table, and the family calmly Roll up your trouser legs and eat.
Residents living in urban areas usually go to the supermarket in advance to "stock up" and feel at home at home.
Shops and residences have also taken precautions under the instructions issued by the Observatory, such as stacking sandbags, and sticking "m" with tape on doors and windows.
Then, wait for the wind to come.
On the evening of September 15, 2018, the Hong Kong Observatory forecasted that the super typhoon "Mangkhut" would strike, and a large number of ships entered the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter for shelter.
Photo by Zhang Wei
It can be seen that Hong Kong is able to withstand the invasion of typhoons one after another, not only because of accumulated experience, but also thanks to various "magic weapons"-rapid response from all walks of life and excellence in infrastructure.
However, the training of these "magic weapons" is also inseparable from the blood and tears of the past.
Since record, the worst typhoon disaster in Hong Kong was the typhoon "Wandai" in 1962, which caused 183 deaths or disappearances. The rain disaster was the "6.18 rain disaster" in 1972, with more than 130 deaths.
The rainstorm warning signal was produced on May 8, 1992, when a rainstorm that killed 4 people triggered the government at that time to formulate a yellow, red, and black rainstorm warning signal for the general public.
In response to typhoons, rainstorms and other weather warning signals, the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has also formulated the "Natural Disaster Response Plan", which covers the roles and responsibilities of government departments and public utilities from pre-disaster preparation and response during disaster to post-disaster aftermath. , Are clearly listed.
On October 13, 2020, citizens came to Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to "chase the wind".
Photo by Zhang Wei
Is it the Observatory, not the Meteorological Bureau?
In other countries or regions, the government departments responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather are called "Meteorological Bureau", but in Hong Kong they are called "Observatory". What is this?
The head of the Hong Kong Observatory's front desk, Shun Chi-ming, made a film explaining that it turned out that one of the early tasks of the Hong Kong Observatory, which was established in 1883, was to observe the weather and record the time. Although today, the Observatory no longer needs to follow the old rules. Tell the time, but the name has always been used.
Then why does the Hong Kong Observatory belong to the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Special Administrative Region Government?
Cen Zhiming said that this is because the early "three treasures" of the observatory were meteorological, time service, and geomagnetic, that is, meteorological observation, geomagnetic observation, and observation time service.
Among them, the geomagnetic observation is to adjust the compass on the ship for the captain.
The Observatory provides observational information for shipping, which is closely related to the economic activities of Hong Kong at that time.
Author: Han Xingtong