Songpa-gu Ensures Full Preparedness for Summer Flood and Wind Damage... Proactive Measures to Secure Residents' Safety

Inspection and Maintenance of Flood Control Facilities Including 6 Rainwater Pump Stations in Songpa-gu
Thorough Management of 4 Rivers... Continuous Inspection of Disaster-Vulnerable Facilities with Circuit Breaker Control and Evacuation Guidance
Free Installation of Flood Prevention Facilities for Semi-Basement Houses, 90% Cost Support for Apartments and Detached Houses
Accompanied Service by Officials for Households with Flood History... Focused Management on Rapid Evacuation and Damage Support

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has officially launched the 'Flood and Wind Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' and has begun proactive measures such as inspecting areas vulnerable to flood and wind damage during the summer season.

With this summer expected to bring more rainfall than usual, Songpa-gu’s Flood and Wind Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will maintain a 24-hour emergency duty system for five months, from May 15 to October 15, to fully prepare for natural disasters such as heavy rain.

District Mayor Seo Gang-seok stated, “Thorough inspections and preparations are the only answer to protect residents’ safety from natural disasters caused by abnormal climate,” adding, “Well-trained public officials will take the lead in minimizing residents’ damage through proactive responses.”

Previously, the district conducted various drills and training sessions to strengthen flood and wind disaster response capabilities. Targeting the Songpa-gu Office’s Water Management Division, flood and wind disaster officers at each community service center, building owners and tenants responsible for flood prevention facilities, on-site training and education were provided on topics such as ‘Pump Operation Training,’ ‘How to Use Portable and Mobile Water Barriers,’ and ‘Inspection and Management Guidelines for Flood Prevention Facilities’ to do their utmost in preventing flood damage.

The district is especially focusing all efforts on preventing resident flood damage caused by heavy rain. Before the official rainy season begins, inspections and maintenance were carried out on flood control facilities within the district to block flood disasters at the source. Inspections were conducted on six rainwater pumping stations, which are central to flood prevention, and operational demonstrations were performed on seven sluice gates to complete equipment status checks.

Additionally, considering the geographical characteristic of being surrounded by four rivers, the district is managing local river maintenance perfectly. To prevent isolation accidents caused by river flooding during heavy rain, the operation of blocking facilities at the entrances and exits of Tancheon, Seongnaecheon, Jangjicheon, and Gamicheon rivers was checked, and thorough maintenance was performed on river facilities such as embankments and revetments, as well as removal of obstacles that interfere with water flow within the rivers.

Moreover, through 15 projects including sewer structure maintenance works, old or insufficient-capacity sewer pipes are being repaired, over 30,000 rainwater inlets are inspected and cleared of debris, and 13,930 manholes are continuously checked. Comprehensive inspections are conducted targeting flood control facilities such as sewer facilities and underground structures in flood-vulnerable areas.

The district also supports the installation of flood prevention facilities mainly for semi-basement houses to prevent flood damage in low-lying areas. Installation is free for semi-basement houses and small businesses, and up to 90% of installation costs are supported for communal and detached houses. Applications can be submitted by visiting the community service centers.

This year, an additional 1,100 meters of water barriers were installed for 320 semi-basement households vulnerable to flooding, and 91 new indoor backflow prevention devices were also installed.

Furthermore, intensive management is provided for disaster-vulnerable households. Care services are offered to 160 households with a history of flooding, and for 49 households with severely disabled persons, elderly, or children, a companion partner service is provided, matching one public official with four nearby residents to assist in rapid evacuation. According to flood warnings and alerts, evacuation guidance, health checks, and flood status monitoring will be conducted to prevent casualties caused by flooding.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “We will closely monitor weather conditions and thoroughly prepare so that residents can spend the upcoming summer season with peace of mind,” and added, “We will continue to prioritize residents’ safety, carefully examine all safety factors, and create a safe city of Songpa for our residents.”