Global Disaster Reduction and Relief

High in the mountains of Hsinchu County, the Tayal community of Thyakan Village sits along a narrow ridge, its name meaning “where the sun shines.” Surrounded by clouds and steep terrain. Known for its peaches, its main source of livelihood. Here, the land sustains daily life. Yet that same landscape also makes Thyakan vulnerable.

A single mountain road connects the village to the outside world. Under normal conditions, the 40-kilometer journey takes up to 90 minutes. During typhoons or heavy rain, landslides and rising streams can quickly sever that connection. When the road is cut, Thyakan becomes an island.

A Commitment Before the Storm

To prepare for these moments, The Mustard Seed Mission partnered with the community four years ago to establish a disaster food reserve center. Thyakan is one of 11 remote communities in this program—each identified as at high risk of becoming isolated during disasters.

Each center stores enough supplies to support 50 households for three days, including shelf-stable food and drinking water. Supplies are carefully managed: items nearing expiration are distributed to vulnerable households, ensuring nothing goes to waste while maintaining readiness.

The system is not designed to stop disasters, but to ensure the community is not left without support when they occur.

Restocking Before the Rain

Every year before typhoon season, teams must travel to each reserve site to inspect and replenish supplies. This year’s restocking effort for 2026 has already begun.

For Thyakan, timing is critical. Mountain weather shifts quickly—afternoon fog reduces visibility, and sudden rain can make roads dangerous. To avoid these risks, teams depart early in the morning, navigating steep, winding roads with fully loaded vehicles. A supply truck carries the goods, accompanied by a second vehicle to share the load and ensure safety along the route.

The goal is simple but essential: complete delivery, inventory checks, and handover before midday, then return before conditions worsen. In addition to these trips, quarterly inventory checks—both in person and online—help ensure that every reserve center always remains ready.

More Than Supplies

In recent years, Thyakan has been lucky enough to have avoided major disaster damage. But even temporary power outages or blocked water systems can make daily life difficult. During those times, simple items like biscuits or instant cereal from the reserve center become vital, especially as residents work to clear debris and restore their homes.

What sits in storage is more than food and water. It is a form of assurance that even when the village is cut off, they will not be left to face it alone.

Support Preparedness That Reaches Further

For communities like Thyakan, preparedness is not a one-time response—it is an ongoing commitment. From setting up reserve centers to maintaining supplies year after year, this work happens quietly, long before disasters make headlines.

Support The Mustard Seed Mission’s disaster preparedness efforts to help more remote communities stay ready, connected, and protected before the next storm arrives.

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