Mapo-gu, All-Out Effort to Prevent Flooding in Preparation for Heavy Rainfall

District Operates Rainwater Inlet Managers, Volunteer Camp Activists, Environmental Guards... Rainwater Inlet Management
District Plans to Install 3,442m Transparent Water Barriers and 2,000 Indoor Backflow Prevention Devices to Prevent Semi-Basement Flooding This Year
District Mayor Park Gang-su: "Strengthening Surveillance Focused on Semi-Basement Houses, Underground Roads, and Rivers to Prevent Flood Damage for Residents This Year as Well"

Ahead of the full-scale rainy season, Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Gang-su) is making every effort to prevent flood damage to residents this summer through both preventive activities and post-management.

The district has created a disaster information map marking six flood-prone areas and five roads vulnerable to flooding for management purposes. In addition, in April, it completed inspections to ensure that 692 flood-fighting pumps held at the Mapo-gu Dong Community Centers and rainwater pumping stations are ready for immediate use.

Going forward, the district plans to focus on managing rainwater inlets, which are a major cause of flooding during heavy rains.

By October, the district will deploy 2,018 public officials, members of the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps, and private personnel to operate a 24-hour rainwater inlet management system, regularly inspecting and removing debris from rainwater inlets in flood-prone areas and roads vulnerable to flooding.

Volunteers from the 16 Dong Volunteer Camps and residents of Mapo-gu will also conduct weekly cleanup activities for seven weeks from July to August, removing trash, fallen leaves, and cigarette butts around rainwater inlets during periods of heavy rainfall.

Additionally, the “Our Neighborhood Environmental Security Guards,” composed of seniors aged 65 and older, will assist in cleaning around rainwater inlets and drainage channels.

To prevent damage caused by river flooding, the district will conduct regular inspections of 126 river disaster early warning facilities, including water level gauges, text message electronic signboards, and river barriers, through October.

Moreover, the AI-based flood prevention barrier system installed last year by the district?the first among Seoul’s autonomous districts?at the World Cup Stream underground passage will be actively utilized again this year for rapid river access blocking.

The installation of flood barriers for semi-basement houses at high risk of flooding is also being expanded. Starting this year, the district is producing and installing transparent flood barriers that provide shade and do not spoil the appearance even during normal times. The district plans to install flood barriers in a total of 500 households this year and expand the installation of indoor backflow prevention devices.

Meanwhile, to protect residents who suffer unexpected wind and flood damage, Mapo-gu operates a “Wind and Flood Insurance” program. Insurance premiums are subsidized from 55% to 100% depending on the eligibility of the applicants. Detailed information is available at the Mapo-gu Water Management Division.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, emphasized, “Although there were no serious flood damages in Mapo-gu last year, complacency is not an option given the recent unpredictable weather forecasts,” adding, “We will thoroughly manage semi-basement houses, rivers, and habitual flood areas in the district and maintain rainwater inlets to ensure that not a single case of flood damage occurs.”