On 16 September 2018, strong winds and heavy rain of the supper typhoon “Mangkhut” had caused severe damages to Hong Kong and HKUST. The boatyard, the sea wall and an emergency vehicular access (EVA) road along the seafront area on campus were badly damaged. Many fallen trees caused obstruction to traffic roads and pedestrian paths. Luckily, most of the buildings and facilities on campus remained in good condition. Only some areas had minor damages that needed to be repaired.
HKUST is always taking a proactive approach in managing safety. Members of the campus community understand the importance of emergency preparedness in tackling the natural disaster. Before the typhoon hit, on 13 September 2018, HSEO conducted a cross-department meeting with representatives from FMO, CSO, DST, SAO, and SHRLO. In the meeting, members shared their safety concerns and demonstrated their commitment to take necessary precautionary measures against the super typhoon. HSEO also conducted on-site inspection on campus with representatives from FMO, CSO, DST, SAO, and SHRLO on 14 September 2018 to ensure all precautionary measures were in place. Hazards identified from the inspection were removed before the approach of the typhoon.
Throughout the incident, it was observed that the safety culture of the University was very positive. Staff at all levels and students demonstrated their efforts and commitment not only to minimize damages to the University’s property but also help clean up the campus after the typhoon.