Nowon-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Group Selected as Best Practice by Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City

Residents Well-Acquainted with Local Conditions Voluntarily Organize to Address Blind Spots in Disaster Areas
Operation of District's Representative Heatwave Countermeasure Project 'Healing Refrigerator' and Active Patrols of Rivers to Prepare for Heavy Rainfall as Guardians of Resident Safety

Volunteer Disaster Prevention Team Activities for Heavy Rain Preparedness

Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok)'s 'Nowon-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps' announced that it received the 'Excellence Award' at the Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps Performance Report Meeting, following its Encouragement Award at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Best Practice Competition.

The Nowon-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps is a voluntary disaster prevention organization composed of residents who are familiar with local conditions and have a strong willingness to actively participate, aiming to eliminate blind spots in disaster areas due to the unpredictability and large scale of disasters. Currently, a total of 624 members are participating.

Members usually work to prevent damage from various natural disasters such as heatwaves, typhoons, heavy rain, and heavy snow. In the event of a disaster, they cooperate with the district office to participate in response and recovery activities, performing extensive activities on the front lines of disaster sites.

At the 'Seoul Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps Performance Report Meeting,' which involved 25 autonomous districts, the Nowon-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps was recognized for its smooth operation of the district's representative heatwave countermeasure project, the 'Healing Refrigerator,' and the active activities of the 'River Patrol Team' preparing for heavy rain, receiving a commendation from the Mayor of Seoul.

In fact, over 32 days, the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps distributed 1,951,860 bottles of water to approximately 37,000 residents along eight walking trails and seven riverside locations within the area where the Healing Refrigerator was operated, preventing heat-related illnesses. Additionally, in preparation for the approaching typhoon, they inspected rainwater inlets and, following the sudden convening of the Nowon-gu Flood and Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, frequently controlled and patrolled rivers, demonstrating the residents-led autonomous disaster response and prevention capabilities.

Moreover, the Nowon-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps is dedicated to creating a safe Nowon in various fields, including autonomous safety inspection campaigns for intensive safety checks, safety personnel management for large crowds at local festivals, spring wildfire surveillance activities, and safety inspections of summer heat shelters.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "I appreciate the hard work of the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps who strive for the safety of our residents," and added, "I ask that residents continue to unite their efforts to establish a thorough safety net and strengthen the region's autonomous disaster prevention functions so that Nowon can become a safe district."