Jemulpo-gu District (Mayor Kim Chan-jin) in Incheon has begun a comprehensive inspection to prevent damage from heavy snow ahead of its first winter since its launch. The district has designated Sept. 21 through Nov. 14 as a "winter natural disaster (heavy snow) advance preparation period." During this period, it will inspect and overhaul its snow removal system and all disaster-prone areas.
 [The Korean Today] Comprehensive inspection for winter natural disaster preparedness © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The inspection aims to move away from responding only after snow has fallen and instead close gaps in disaster safety management before winter arrives. To this end, the district has drawn up a "winter natural disaster (heavy snow) advance preparation plan." Under the plan, it will review from scratch and fully overhaul the response system to be activated during heavy snow, road snow removal measures and management of disaster-prone areas.
The district has set out five key priorities: establishing an emergency response system that operates 24 hours a day; identifying and inspecting disaster-prone areas; setting up a preemptive snow removal system that moves before snow accumulates; strengthening safety management for vulnerable groups; and providing training to expand residents' participation in snow removal and improve staff response capabilities. The district plans to make these five areas the pillars of its disaster preparedness this winter.
On-site preparations will also be completed within the advance preparation period. The district plans to conduct a full survey of the inventory and condition of its snow removal materials and equipment, and to survey disaster-prone areas as well, completing necessary repairs. The goal is to be ready to deploy personnel and equipment to the field immediately when heavy snow occurs.
Heavy snow is a disaster that causes inconvenience and danger across residents' daily lives, through icy roads, traffic congestion and pedestrian falls. Vulnerable groups, such as elderly people with limited mobility and residents living alone, are particularly likely to face difficulties going out and carrying on daily life when heavy snow falls. The district's inclusion of safety management for vulnerable groups and expanded resident participation among its key areas can be seen as reflecting the reality that administrative resources alone cannot cover every alley and back road.
This winter's preparations also mark the first case in which Jemulpo-gu, newly launched through the administrative system reorganization, will apply a single disaster response standard across its entire consolidated jurisdiction. How thoroughly the district addresses issues uncovered during the advance inspection is expected to determine the speed of its response when heavy snow actually hits.
"As this is the first winter since the launch of Jemulpo-gu, we will make residents' safety our top priority and build a preemptive and bold disaster preparedness system," Jemulpo-gu Mayor Kim Chan-jin said. "Through thorough advance inspections and field-centered response, we will make every effort to ensure that all residents can spend the winter with peace of mind."
The district will complete its inspections and repairs by Nov. 14 before launching full-scale winter heavy snow response operations. Attention is on how effective the system put in place during the advance preparation period will prove in actual snowfall situations.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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