Therefore, the frequent occurrences of natural disasters often result to serious damage and loss of lives and properties. The society often shows much concern toward disaster related problems. The government and the private sector also engage in disaster prevention and response works. However, due to rapid economic developments and social changes, disaster prevention works are less than adequate at present. In recent years, improved standards of living have resulted to higher demands for the protection of lives and properties. The government also finds it essential to promptly formulate effective disaster prevention and response strategies, strengthen disaster prevention technology research results and implement them in disaster prevention operations.

Since 1982, The National Science Council began promoting large disaster prevention research programs. Thus, in November 1997, disaster prevention and response operation based departments and bureaus co-setup the National Science and Technology Program for Hazards Mitigation. Year 1998 is the preparation year, 1999～2001 is the first term program execution period, and 20002～2006is the second term program execution period. Since the execution of the National Science and Technology Program for Hazards Mitigation, the setup of disaster prevention related data, potential disaster investigation and analysis, disaster scenario simulation and risk level analysis, early warning and forecasting techniques, disaster management decision support system, after-shock building safety diagnosis and reinforcement, structural anti-shock design and anti-shock capability assessment, HAZ-Taiwan system setup and application, disaster prevention education, disaster prevention and emergency response system, disaster prevention system review assessment, and disaster prevention strategies have received solid results. They have been applied in practical work and have laid solid foundation for future works.