Storm surge responses in Macau: Early warnings and soft adaptation

In this study, the authors investigated three major typhoons in Macau—Typhoons Hato (2017), Mangkhut (2018), and Ragasa (2025)—to examine changes in residents' evacuation behavior and government responses. Macau's experiences with storm-surge flooding from these typhoons have resulted in substantial improvements in coastal resilience in less than a decade. Few coastal metropolises other than Macau have experienced storm-surge flooding in their central districts three times in the past decade.

Results indicate that government warnings strongly influenced evacuation behavior, with many residents following official guidance, while social influence and prior disaster experience also shaped decisions. Despite Typhoon Ragasa potentially being the most intense of the three and causing flooding in the Inner Harbour area, respondents perceived it as less severe, likely reflecting improved preparedness and timely warnings. In addition to early typhoon signals, Macau has implemented multiple adaptive measures to mitigate storm-surge impacts.