"Zero Human Casualties" ... Changwon Special City Establishes Disaster Response System

Promotion of Disaster Prevention Projects in Chronic Flooding Areas

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam is expanding its disaster prevention projects and response system construction for habitual flood-prone areas to protect the valuable lives and property of its citizens in preparation for disasters such as typhoons and heavy rainfalls.

Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

In March last year, the city was selected as a new project site for 2023 by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for the Masanhappo-gu Sinpo (Cheoksan) district flood and water disaster living zone maintenance project and the Seongsan-gu Sinchon district stormwater retention facility installation project. The detailed design service began in June, and the projects are currently underway. The city is actively securing national funding by continuously visiting and recommending for project selection for new project sites next year to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

This year, especially due to the development of El Ni?o in the summer, sea surface temperatures are rising, and low-pressure circulation near South Korea is strengthening, bringing a large amount of water vapor, which is predicted to result in higher than average rainfall.

Accordingly, the city plans to produce and disclose to citizens by March next year a disaster information map containing flood information and evacuation plans necessary for the rapid evacuation of citizens in preparation for urban flooding caused by natural disasters such as typhoons and heavy rainfalls.

Additionally, the city will establish an urban flood response system utilizing information technology such as flood prediction and real-time monitoring in habitual flood-prone areas to minimize flood damage.

The disaster information map to be constructed this time will be created based on flood trace maps recording past flood histories and internal flood analysis, and will include detailed information on flood damage prevention such as flood information, evacuation sites, evacuation routes, and evacuation behavior guidelines. The disaster information map will be initially distributed in printed form to each eup, myeon, and dong before the start of the rainy season in May next year, and an online service on the website is also planned.

Furthermore, the city plans to build an urban flood response system to secure citizen safety from urban flooding by predicting and managing flood damage in urban areas in advance through on-site real-time flood monitoring, urban flood analysis and prediction, and integrated control.

Son Jeong-hyun, Disaster Response Officer, stated, “The disaster information map and urban flood response system will be usefully utilized for resident evacuation, damage prevention, and rapid response in preparation for disasters such as urban flooding, contributing to protecting the precious lives and property of citizens.” He added, “Our city will strive to create a safer Changwon Special City against natural disasters by actively preparing for typhoons and heavy rainfalls based on the disaster information map and urban flood response system.”

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