Songpa-gu Implements Comprehensive Cold Wave Measures for Safe and Warm Winter Preparation

From November 15 to March 15... Monitoring Vulnerable Health Groups, Expanding Cold Wave Mitigation Facilities, Conducting Facility Inspections
Seogangseok, Songpa District Mayor: "We Will Strengthen Local Patrols to Proactively Identify and Support Vulnerable Groups' Inconveniences"

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it has established a comprehensive cold wave countermeasure plan for 2023-24 and will actively implement it from November 15 to March 15 of next year.

In response to the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast of significant temperature fluctuations compared to the average this winter, the district has prepared multifaceted winter measures to minimize human casualties, property damage, and inconvenience to residents by preparing for severe cold and sudden temperature drops.

During the cold wave countermeasure period, the district will operate the ‘Cold Wave Countermeasure T/F’ on a regular basis to monitor weather conditions and focus on the health of vulnerable groups and facility management. When a cold wave advisory is issued, a separate ‘Cold Wave Countermeasure Comprehensive Situation Room’ will be activated to commence 24-hour emergency duty and establish a rapid response system.

In particular, various special measures will be prepared and implemented for health-vulnerable groups with weak climate change adaptability. First, 1,298 disaster helpers such as community leaders and Happiness Fence members are designated for elderly people living alone, who will visit each household or check on them by phone and provide cold wave preparedness guidelines when a cold wave advisory is issued.

For those with mobility difficulties and chronic diseases, dedicated personnel such as visiting nurses will be specially deployed to conduct regular health checkups, distribute warming supplies, and provide education on cold wave preparedness. Patrol teams will be formed to provide warming supplies and encourage homeless people on the streets to enter facilities, ensuring that no one is neglected.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, urged, “The heads of the 27 neighborhoods in the district should take the lead in strengthening local patrols and proactively identify the inconveniences of vulnerable groups,” emphasizing special orders to prevent welfare blind spots during winter. Accordingly, neighborhood community centers plan to prepare to provide faster and more direct administrative services at the closest point to residents in emergencies.

Additionally, efforts will be made to ensure the safety management of multi-use facilities and infrastructure to minimize human and material damage to residents. First, for public transportation users, 276 smart heated chairs and 23 warming tents have been installed and operated throughout the district, with plans to add more early next year. A district official stated, “We have just completed a demand survey for expanding cold wave mitigation facilities next year. We will prepare so that more people can use public transportation warmly and comfortably without cold during winter.”

Furthermore, gas and oil facilities will be jointly inspected with related agencies, and measures such as promoting prevention methods for freezing of manual meters will be managed regularly and addressed promptly.

Moreover, the district will take the lead in swift publicity so that residents can prepare for sudden cold. ‘Cold Wave Preparedness Guidelines for Residents’ will be promoted online and offline through SNS channels (blog, Instagram, Facebook), large electronic billboards, and IPTV, and disaster messages will be sent immediately when cold wave advisories are issued or anticipated to prevent the risk of cold-related illnesses during winter.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok said, “The safety of residents is the most important value of district administration that cannot be exchanged for anything,” and added, “We will thoroughly and meticulously implement the comprehensive cold wave countermeasure plan so that all residents can spend the winter safely and comfortably.”