Taiwan's Yilan County Faces Low Uptake on Flood Barrier Subsidies Amid Typhoon Threat

As Typhoon Bavi approaches, Yilan County officials are expressing concern over the low uptake of a government subsidy program for flood barriers. The "Yilan County Flood Gate (Board) Subsidy Plan," approved in April by the Executive Yuan, aims to help households that suffered flooding exceeding 50 centimeters. The program offers a maximum subsidy of NT$47,000 per household, with an estimated 4,500 households eligible to benefit.

However, since its launch, only slightly more than 20 households have applied. This low application rate is worrying, especially given the severe flooding experienced in many parts of Yilan during last year's Typhoon Fung-wong. Residents recall the distressing scenes of water inundating homes and the arduous cleanup efforts that followed.

The county's Water Resources Department attributes the low interest partly to the cost-sharing nature of the subsidy, where the central and local governments cover half the actual expenses, leaving residents to pay the other half. Additionally, some residents question the effectiveness of the 90-centimeter high flood barriers, especially if flooding exceeds that level. Officials maintain that the barriers offer significant protection for moderate flooding scenarios, preventing substantial losses, and that extreme flooding events are rare and beyond the scope of such barriers. The subsidy is available until the end of 2027, and the county plans to collaborate with local townships to enhance publicity and encourage more applications.

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The 90-centimeter high flood barrier has a certain water-blocking effect. For example, if flooding is 50 or 60 centimeters, as long as it is below 90 centimeters, a flood barrier will prevent water from entering the house, which can solve many problems and reduce many losses. Those without protection may suffer heavy losses. If the flood exceeds 90 centimeters, it might be due to heavy rain or extreme weather, which is not common and cannot be handled by flood barriers.