Yeongdeungpo-gu Prevents Flood Damage Through Regional Cooperation Governance

Establishment of Companion Partner Service and Strengthening of Public Official Care Services Linked to Flood Forecast and Warning System

Focused Management of 20 Disaster-Vulnerable Households and 185 General Management Households Selected

Local Collaborative Governance Composed of Care Public Officials, Community Leaders, and Nearby Residents to Minimize Flood Damage

Choi Ho-gwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will strengthen public official care services by establishing a Companion Partner Service for flood-vulnerable households such as semi-basement homes.

The public official care service is a system where care public officials relay information to disaster-vulnerable households and assist in prompt evacuation when there is a risk of flooding. This year, 20 disaster-vulnerable households and 185 general management households have been selected, and the care service’s field response will be further strengthened in connection with the flood forecast and warning system.

The newly established Companion Partner Service this year consists of one care public official, one community leader (tong/banjang), and about three nearby residents forming one team. The Companion Partner Service intensively manages disaster-vulnerable households living in semi-basement homes, such as people with severe disabilities, elderly, and children, by matching one team to five households.

Under normal circumstances, the members of the Companion Partner team build mutual trust and establish an emergency contact system through group chat rooms to share weather information and situation alerts.

In case of flood damage, the care public official immediately relays the situation and directs the site, reporting any unusual matters to the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. The community leader and nearby residents respond to the affected households, assess the situation, and take immediate evacuation measures if signs of flooding, such as water entering the basement homes, are detected.

Additionally, general management households, including those with past flood history, households with installed flood prevention facilities, and semi-basement households judged to be at risk of flooding, are matched one-on-one with care public officials. The care public officials conduct pre-inspections of flood prevention facilities such as water barriers and backflow preventers, encourage subscription to flood and typhoon insurance, and support damage recovery.

The public official care service provides practical support from neighbors and others to disaster-vulnerable individuals who find it difficult to respond on their own during floods. It also helps prevent delays in dispatch times caused by a surge in civil complaint calls during heavy rain and contributes to securing the golden time for life rescue.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “This summer, with frequent heavy rains expected due to El Ni?o occurring for the first time in three years, we will take the lead in minimizing flood damage by providing resident-centered disaster prevention services based on local collaborative governance such as the public official care service.”

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