In early August, Taiwan faced the Pacific season’s fiercest storm yet—another form of endurance test for communities, businesses, and infrastructure.
The Storm in Numbers
Typhoon Podul formed on August 6, intensified into a typhoon by the 9th, and reached peak strength just before striking the southeastern coast of Taiwan on August 13. Wind gusts in Taitung reached 191 km/h, while rainfall in Pingtung exceeded 440 mm, with mountains receiving up to 600 mm.
The storm left a heavy mark: one life lost, one person missing, more than a hundred injured, and over 8,000 evacuated. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, rail lines suspended, and flooded roadways blocking key routes. Even Taoyuan International Airport was affected when a cargo jet suffered damage during landing.
It’s reported that 310,000 households lost power, and 4,000 Taipower personnel were deployed across Taitung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Taichung. Thanks to experiences from the previous storms and cross-regional support, over 97% of electricity was restored quickly, while ongoing repairs battled wind, rain, and difficult terrain.
Economic Ripples
The storm disrupted far more than daily routines. Shops, offices, and schools were closed due to power outage, rising floodwaters, and unsafe weather conditions. Factories were also forced offline, halting production and delaying shipments. The financial toll went beyond repair costs, extending to lost revenue, damaged goods, and strained client trust.
The photovoltaic (PV) industry faced similar adversities. Typhoon Danas in July damaged over 145,000 PV panels, flooding coastal and low-lying facilities, forcing shutdowns and halting power generation. Extensive repairs and equipment replacements drove PV insurance claims to an estimated NT$800 million, underscoring how exposed solar installations—and the businesses that depend on them—are to extreme weather.
Typhoon Season Is a Certainty; the Greater Risk Is Being Unprepared
Typhoon Podul left with a clear warning: extreme weather will return, and every storm exposes weak points in operations and infrastructure. The difference between scrambling to recover and continuing operations lies in energy resilience.
Comprehensive emergency power systems and carefully rehearsed contingency plans ensure that critical processes keep running even when the grid fails. Businesses that prepare are the ones that continue serving customers, protecting staff, and maintaining their reputation.
Start your resilience planning with AMPOWER today!
[Photo: CNA, CWA, China Times, 上下游新聞 林吉洋, Taipower, Yahoo News, 上下游新聞 林吉洋]