Typhoons are the same as hurricanes, they just have a different name because they are in the Pacific Ocean. They are large tropical storms that bring heavy rain and very strong winds. Typhoon season is May to November and storms can come in various severities.
I have experienced two typhoons. My first was in October. Since the winds can knock down trees and send debris flying, they can be very dangerous. Therefore, the mayor of Taipei canceled school and work for two days to keep people safe at home. Most other places in Taiwan also closed work and schools. This first typhoon ended up changing direction so it hardly affected Taipei but there was still strong wind and rain for about a day.
The second one I experienced was at the end of October and was much stronger. They canceled school for only one day this time since the strongest part of the storm hit the city while we were sleeping. The next morning while I walked to the bus I saw so much damage and debris. There were palm fronds and tree branches all over the roads and sidewalks as well as garbage, signs, and pieces of buildings that were blown around. I had to be very careful where I walked that day. My school experienced a lot of damage and there was a lot to clean up. Many places in Taiwan had much worse damage than Taipei. It was scary and sad to see so many communities hurt by the record-breaking storm.
These natural disasters can bring many large challenges to people in Taiwan. However, the people of Taiwan are resilient and have a strong sense of community. They take care of each other when the unthinkable happens but also do a lot to prepare and protect each other from harm. It is so inspiring to live here and get to watch firsthand how they always lend a helping hand.
