Emergency response coordinator emotional after 23 days on the job
Emergency response coordinator emotional after 23 days on the job
2025-10-24
After the Mataian River barrier lake overflowed, flooding Hualien’s Guangfu Township, the Central Emergency Operations Center immediately formed a task force to handle the aftermath. The key point person, chief coordinator Chi Lien-cheng, can now successfully retire from the role after 23 days of nonstop work. From dawn to dusk, Chi helped a shattered town find a ray of light through the dark. In an exclusive and emotional interview with FTV, Chi shared his experience.
By order of the Executive Yuan
I’ve been appointed second chief coordinator.
With his firm gaze and imposing air, Chi Lien-cheng on Sept. 30 arrived in Hualien’s Guangfu Township to lead relief efforts. He hasn’t rested for the 23 days since then.
Everyone involved in the relief effort
must sympathize with the people’s suffering
in order to do a good job.
Chi vividly remembers his first sight of Guangfu.
Chi Lien-cheng
CEOC chief coordinator
As soon as I arrived, the first thought I had was: How are we going to do this? Because everywhere you looked was utter devastation.
By coordinating teams and organizing resources, Chi was able to turn this disaster zone around.
Chi Lien-cheng
CEOC chief coordinator
I started eating dinner at 8pm. Sometimes when I couldn’t eat anything, I just had instant noodles. At night, I’d start thinking about what we needed to do the next day, so I couldn’t sleep well.
He’d wake up at 5am and start holding meetings at 8. At 10, he’d convene a news conference, then go to inspect the town. In the afternoon, he’d listen to reports from officials on the ground, then in the evening met with county officials. His last task was to give orders to military troops. By the time he returned to his room, it was already 11pm. But even the toughest of men can have a tender heart.
Chi Lien-cheng
CEOC chief coordinator
The most heartbreaking thing was that, since all the single-story dwellings were swept away, at first, the number of missing was over 100. There was enormous pressure at that time. Extremely tense. I went to offer condolences to all the bereaved households on the premier’s behalf. Each time, I went to the funeral hall to light incense and pray.
When discussing people who lost family or homes in the disaster, Chi’s eyes turned red. He’s helped in many disaster zones before, but this is the one that will stay with him.
Chi Lien-cheng
CEOC chief coordinator
I want to especially thank all the volunteers. In my experience with disaster relief, I’ve never seen something like this before. This is the first.
In his own self-assessment, Chi said he put in 80%, but there’s still 20% room for improvement. There’s still a lot he wants to do, and after returning to his work at the Executive Yuan, he said he’ll keep working on behalf of the people.
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#ChiLiencheng #CEOC #Guangfu #disaster #disasterrelief #chiefcoordinator #interview #Mataian #flooding #Hualien
坐鎮災區23天! 總協調官季連成哽咽宣布功成身退
2025-10-24
花蓮光復鄉馬太鞍溪溢流，中央前進協調所，將轉型為任務編組，關鍵人物、總協調官季連成也功成身退，災後23天，親力親為，從早上忙到深夜，讓一度混亂的救災現場，出現曙光，季連成也接受民視專訪，談到這段經歷，他一度哽咽、紅了眼眶。
-我奉命行政院
-來擔任第二輪的總協調官
眼神堅毅、氣場強大，季連成9月30號坐鎮花蓮光復鄉，指揮救災，23天下來從沒休息。
-每一個救災的同仁來講
-你一定要抱著一個苦民所苦的心境
-你才可以做得好
回想起進駐光復鄉的第一天，季連成仍印象深刻。
[[中央前進協調所總協調官 季連成]]
“一來的時候給我的感覺是，這工作要怎麼做?，因為看過去的時候，滿目瘡痍”
季連成調整編組，開始整合人力物資，讓荒腔走板的救災現場，出現轉機。
[[中央前進協調所總協調官 季連成]]
“八點才開始吃晚餐，那我都是有的時候，實在是吃不下，就吃泡麵，晚上會思考一些第二天要做的事，所以說沒有辦法睡得很深沉”
清晨五點起床，八點開內部會議，十點召開記者會，接著巡視災區，下午聆聽觀察官會報，晚上得跟縣府開會，最後負責調派國軍任務，等回到住宿地，已經深夜11點，然而鐵漢也藏著柔情。
[[中央前進協調所總協調官 季連成]]
“讓我心疼的就是說，因為家家戶戶已經一樓的都已經沖走了，剛開始的時候，失聯的人數有100多位，那時候真的是令人，非常地壓力，非常緊張，當初我代表院長到每一位罹難家屬去慰問，我去的時候都是到靈堂去，點個香，祭拜一下”
談及失去家人或家園的災民，季連成紅了眼框，曾參與多場救災行動，但這回對他來說，終身難忘。
[[中央前進協調所總協調官 季連成]]
“要特別感謝我們全國的鏟子超人，這些志工，在我的救災經驗裡面，從來沒有發生過的，這是第一次”
季連成自評80分，20分是進步空間，坦言還有許多放不下，接下來回到行政院，將繼續為台灣付出。
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