Imsil-gun Goes All Out to Prevent Heatwave Damage with Water Sprinkler Truck Operations

Published 21 Jul.2022 12:44(KST)

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] On the 21st, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk announced that it will implement full-scale measures to prevent heatwave damage, such as operating water sprinklers and heatwave shelters in the area, as the heatwave is expected to prolong.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this summer’s average temperature is expected to rise compared to normal years, and the frequency and intensity of heatwave days are expected to increase, raising concerns about related damage.

Accordingly, the county has formed a joint task force (T/F) with related departments and established a response system to maintain emergency duty and manage situations when a heatwave advisory is issued, promoting more meticulous and systematic heatwave prevention activities than ever before.

First, when a heatwave advisory is issued, the county will operate five water sprinklers on 20 main arterial roads in four eup and myeon areas with relatively large populations?Imsil-eup, Osu-myeon, Gwanchon-myeon, and Unam-myeon?centered on major roads in the eup and myeon seats until September.

The water sprinklers lower the radiant heat on road surfaces, preventing safety accidents such as asphalt deformation and vehicle tire damage.

They also help mitigate urban heat island effects and remove fine dust accumulated on roads, improving air quality.

In addition, during the summer heatwave period, the county designates and operates 332 heatwave shelters in village halls, senior centers, eup and myeon offices, and other locations to protect people vulnerable to heat.

From last month to early this month, pre-inspections such as air conditioner gas refills and signboard attachments were completed to resolve inconveniences in operating the heatwave shelters.

Disaster helpers composed of elderly caregivers, voluntary disaster prevention groups, and village heads are also operating to carefully monitor residents’ health conditions and conduct frequent inspections to prevent exposure to extreme heat.

For public awareness, the county plans to produce and distribute heatwave-prevention fans, posters, and leaflets to heatwave shelters and continue resident-centered promotional activities using various media such as banners, the official website, village broadcasts, SNS, and disaster early warning systems.

County Governor Shim Min said, “Due to global warming, heatwaves are becoming more severe year by year. We will do our best to devise and discover various prevention methods to ensure that no casualties occur due to heatwaves.”