Jongno-gu Operates Heat Relief Centers and Provides Air Conditioners... Full Effort for a Safe Summer

Establishment of a 3-Stage Response System According to Heatwave Severity... Checking on Vulnerable Groups, Operating Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Installing Shade Shelters at 47 Locations Including Major Arterial Road Crosswalks, and Conducting Water Spraying When Heatwave Warnings Are Issued

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) has been implementing the 'Comprehensive Summer Heatwave Countermeasures' from May 20 to September 30 to minimize damage to residents and facilities caused by the heatwave.

This year's heatwave measures focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19, real-time heatwave situation management and establishing a three-stage response system, special protection for vulnerable groups, and safety measures for outdoor workers.

First, a three-stage (normal, alert, emergency) response system is established according to the severity of the heatwave.

During normal times, three task force teams operate to monitor weather conditions, and when an alert is issued, a comprehensive situation room is operated along with disaster text message services and welfare checks for vulnerable groups.

In case of emergencies such as casualties caused by the heatwave, Jongno-gu will respond systematically through the Jongno-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Additionally, a total of 68 locations including senior centers, welfare centers, and community service centers are designated and operated as cooling shelters. Continuous facility inspections, disinfection, and compliance with social distancing are monitored while observing the trend of COVID-19 spread.

For protection activities for heatwave-vulnerable groups, 590 disaster helpers composed of community leaders, voluntary disaster prevention groups, and visiting nurses are mobilized. These helpers are responsible for welfare calls and visits, as well as promoting heatwave action guidelines to about 6,400 residents including elderly living alone and those with mobility difficulties.

Moreover, about 200 vulnerable elderly will receive special protection using safety and health management solutions (IoT). Using big data such as activity through movement, temperature, humidity, illuminance, and fire/gas safety detection, real-time safety status will be monitored.

For homeless people on the streets and residents of jjokbangchon (small room villages) who are outside the social safety net, special counseling teams and two jjokbang counseling centers in Donui-dong and Changsin-dong are designated as cooling shelters and operated seven days a week.

Jongno-gu also strives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Shade shelters are installed at 47 locations including major arterial road crosswalks and traffic islands, and when a heatwave alert is issued, water spraying is conducted on major arterial roads. A dedicated watering team is organized and operated to prevent heat damage to roadside green belts, and continuous safety inspections are conducted on gas and petroleum facilities with explosion risks.

In addition, to prevent COVID-19 and prepare for heat-related illnesses among legally low-income and housing-vulnerable groups, an 'Air Conditioner Support Project' is carried out to help residents safely get through the summer.

Last year, Jongno-gu also supported about 180 air conditioners for heatwave-vulnerable households.

The air conditioner support targets about 100 vulnerable households in the area with poor housing conditions or mobility difficulties. The costs for purchase and installation are covered using donations from residents and corporate sponsorships.

The district received consent forms last month, confirmed the current status of cooling devices and installation feasibility, and finalized the support recipients. Installation will be completed by visiting the target households within this month.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “We plan to inspect and establish a response system in advance for all possible risks such as natural disasters and safety accidents during the summer,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that residents can safely get through this summer.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.