Some 1,000 volunteers gathered in Taichung City Friday for the launch of a citizens flood alert team that the government hopes will provide more timely information that helps it prevent flood damage. Vice Economics Minister Hwang Jung-chiou said at a ceremony in the central Taiwan city that the volunteers in local communities will complement the government's early warning system and help authorities respond to floods more quickly and effectively. The key to preventing and mitigating flood damage, Hwang said, is getting early warnings and accurate information about situations, a lesson learned in past typhoon seasons. Last August, Typhoon Morakot battered southern Taiwan with torrential rains, triggering lethal mudslides and flooding a quarter of the country's land area. The Water Resources Agency said each of its 10 River Management Offices around Taiwan has recruited 100 local citizens and assigned them into groups according to the conditions of each region. The agency said the volunteers will check places such as pumping stations, river embankments, and drainage systems to see if they are functioning normally. 