Pohang City Focuses on Field-Centered 'Citizen Safety' Measures Throughout This Year

Strengthening Flood Risk Response in Winter to Prepare for Climate Change

Pohang City has designated this year as the "Year of Field-Centered Citizen Safety Communication," aiming to listen to and communicate with citizens on-site to proactively block elements that could threaten safety.

Extreme Rainfall Risk Response Meeting Held Last Year, Presided Over by Mayor Lee Gang-deok.

In response to numerous flood damages caused by abnormal weather phenomena such as nationwide heavy snowfall and rain during the winter season, the city has strengthened its preparedness to respond proactively and conducted on-site inspections to enable immediate action.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok urged the proactive implementation of extensive drainage maintenance and flood prevention measures to prevent urban flooding, given the increased risk of flood damage during winter due to climate change.

Accordingly, on the 22nd and 23rd, the city conducted surveillance of urban flood risk areas, identified vulnerable zones, and inspected drainage maintenance status, resident evacuation routes, and river flood shelters.

Pohang City designated 118 facilities, each at least two to three stories high, as river flood shelters last year by installing resident notification boards to ensure that residents can evacuate immediately in case of extreme heavy rain or typhoon-induced flooding of rivers such as the Hyeongsan River.

Additionally, the city is improving systems by revising ordinances to establish a communication network for rapid evacuation in emergencies and to prepare support measures for citizens who evacuate to shelters.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok stated, “We will focus administrative efforts on field-centered safety measures to ensure that residents' opinions are actively reflected in safety policies through strengthened communication with citizens about their safety. We will implement policies that allow citizens to feel genuinely protected, such as proactive resident evacuation, enhanced disaster prediction and monitoring systems, and the creation of safe streets.”