Having the ability of near real-time damage assessment would benefit earthquake emergency response operations in Taiwan greatly. Thus, we established an empirical method of assessing the near real-time damage using the rapid reporting system in Taiwan. Relationships between peak ground velocity and damage rates (fatality rate, total and partial house-hold collapsing rates) during the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake by the rapid reporting system of the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau (Wu et al. 2001). By correlating peak ground velocity with damage rates gathered by the raped reporting system, a near real-time damage assessment can be issued, in addition to epicenter, magnitude and intensity.