Gangdong-gu, 2023 Winter Season Comprehensive Measures Implementation

Prioritizing Resident Safety in Winter: Comprehensive Preparedness for Disaster and Safety Accident Prevention and Response... Minimizing Resident Inconvenience through Five Key Measures in Cold Wave, Snow Removal, Safety, Health Environment, and Livelihood Stability

Kangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 16th that it will implement the ‘2023 Winter Comprehensive Measures’ to prevent winter disasters and safety accidents and ensure that residents can spend a warm and safe winter.

The district has designated the period from the 15th of this month to March next year as the winter comprehensive measures period, focusing on five areas: ▲cold wave ▲snow removal ▲safety ▲health ▲livelihood stability. Through 20 detailed projects, it will make every effort to protect residents’ lives during the winter season.

First, in the cold wave sector, when a cold wave advisory or warning is issued, a Cold Wave Comprehensive Resource Situation Room will be operated to respond quickly to cold wave situations. To support vulnerable groups, projects such as ‘Warm Winter with Hope Ondol,’ ‘Protecting Community Safety Lines,’ and ‘Winter Countermeasure Fund Support’ will be promoted. For low-income elderly residents, temporary cold wave shelters will be established at easily accessible locations, designating and operating a total of 65 ‘Cold Wave Shelters’ including one at the Kangdong-gu Office main building, 18 at community service centers, and 46 at district-run senior centers. Additionally, home service recipients such as elderly living alone will receive tailored elderly care services and free meals, with regular safety checks. Winter countermeasure funds will also be provided to residential facilities for the disabled, and energy vouchers will be supplied to energy-vulnerable groups to purchase electricity, gas, and heating.

In the snow removal sector, the ‘Snow Removal Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ will operate 24 hours a day to prepare in advance by stockpiling materials and inspecting equipment for prompt snow removal work in case of heavy snowfall. In particular, installation of a ‘Road Heating System’ to prevent icing is underway at nine locations, including near Yangjaedaero 141-gil. During snowfall, bus detour routes will be secured and a traffic countermeasure team will be operated to minimize inconvenience to residents.

In the safety sector, fire safety measures will be promoted to prevent large-scale fires that are likely to occur in dry winter weather and to minimize casualties. An emergency response system will be established for forest fires and gas accidents, and various facilities such as construction sites, roads, and flood control facilities will be inspected in advance to proactively address safety issues.

In the health sector, to respond swiftly to respiratory and various infectious diseases such as influenza and acute respiratory infections that spread in cold weather, a separate epidemiological investigation team will be formed to maintain a 24-hour emergency contact system. Additionally, inspections of illegal and substandard food will be conducted to safely manage residents’ food. If the average daily (next day expected) fine dust concentration exceeds 35 μg/m³, emergency reduction measures will be implemented and a two-day vehicle operation system will be enforced. Furthermore, kimchi-making waste and fallen leaves will be collected promptly to prevent accumulation in storm drains during snowfall.

In the livelihood stability sector, a ‘Price Countermeasure Comprehensive Situation Room’ will be operated to stabilize prices ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Surveys on prices of essential goods baskets and personal service fees will be conducted to implement substantial price stabilization measures. Also, safety inspections of energy supply facilities will be carried out in preparation for the energy crisis. To prevent water meter and pipe freezing, water trucks will be kept on standby, and bottled water and Arisu (tap water) will be secured in advance to prepare for water outages.

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Kangdong-gu, stated, “We will do our best to implement the winter comprehensive measures to protect residents safely from various winter disasters and safety accidents such as heavy snowfall and fires.”

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