'Up to 150mm Water Bomb' Jeonnam Province's All-Out Effort to Minimize Damage

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is making every effort to minimize flood and wind damage during the summer season.

According to the province on the 23rd, a heavy rain advisory was issued for all areas within the province this morning, and a strong wind advisory was issued for 15 cities and counties.

Most areas in Jeonnam are forecasted to receive 50 to 100 mm of rain, with some places expecting over 150 mm. In particular, rainfall is expected to be concentrated from tonight through early morning on the 24th.

Accordingly, the province held a "Summer Flood and Wind Disaster Preparedness Plan Review and Situation Assessment Meeting" at the provincial government disaster control center, attended by officials from 13 disaster cooperation departments, to prevent the recurrence of heavy rain damage like that in 2020 and 2021.

Attendees shared weather conditions including the expected heavy rain patterns through the 24th and agreed to actively respond by engaging in preventive activities by sector to minimize damage.

To minimize flood and wind damage, measures were prepared including ▲ thorough maintenance of drainage channels in habitual flood areas before heavy rainfall ▲ forward deployment of flood control materials ▲ removal of obstacles hindering water flow ▲ inspection of drainage pump operation and power outage preparedness ▲ securing and fastening outdoor signs and small vessels ▲ pre-evacuation of residents in areas at risk of falling rocks, landslides, and flooding.

In addition, pre-inspection and monitoring activities are being conducted in disaster-prone areas, and measures to prevent re-flooding in areas affected by floods in 2020-2021 and to prevent casualties are being established and implemented.

Kim Unhyung, Director of Natural Disasters Division at Jeonnam Province, said, “Although a large amount of rainfall expected to resolve the prolonged drought is anticipated, localized heavy rain may cause dangerous situations for residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas,” adding, “We ask for proactive and preemptive responses such as strengthening monitoring of past flood damage areas, preventing damage from falling objects due to strong winds, and evacuating residents in low-lying areas before and after high tide.”

He continued, “For cooperating departments, please thoroughly check and implement the on-site execution of the ‘Comprehensive Summer Flood and Wind Disaster Countermeasures’ established last May, including pre-inspection of heavy rain damage areas and restoration sites from 2020 and 2021, operation of group chat rooms between the province and cities/counties for rapid sharing of weather and damage information, and sending customized text messages to fishing village residents and land-based aquaculture farms by sector.”

Jeonnam Province plans to maintain the preemptive preparedness stage immediately after the situation assessment meeting today and will issue Emergency Level 1 of the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from 4 p.m., before the heavy rain advisory is issued, focusing provincial government capabilities on minimizing damage.

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