Really amazing to watch the Taiwanese to spring into action once it's safe to venture out and survey the wreckage and assist those in need. People are casually risking their lives in little dinghies, entering raging floodwaters to search for survivors. The flooding is massive. Never seen anything like it, and I've lived through a bunch of bad typhoons here. Many cars are completely underwater in some areas. On main streets! Petty differences are shoved aside, and people are stepping up to help those most affected. Great on-the-scene reporting by the major media here, reporters standing in thigh-deep waters, live, to report the devastation. Soldiers are out in force to clear the wreckage. Private citizens are joining in.
No wailing and pulling of hair, just people wading into it(literally) and doing what needs to be done. Damage has to be in the tens of billions. The government is giving out cash aid to those who have lost family ($500,000) or have family members missing ($200,000). Also to those that have suffered severe damage to their homes and property (up to $200,000, or nearly $7,000US). Truly courageous people, these Taiwanese. Sad, yet inspiring.
