Jeonju City Implements Emergency Disaster Response System During Lunar New Year Holiday

Snow Removal Operations and Ensuring Normal Operation of Public Transportation

Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province maintained a '24-hour emergency disaster response system' during the Lunar New Year holiday, working around the clock on snow removal, protection of vulnerable groups, and ensuring normal operation of public transportation to safeguard the precious lives and property of its citizens from heavy snowfall.

Jeonju City operated a 24-hour emergency duty system during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo by Jeonju City

According to Jeonju City and the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 29th, as of 10 a.m. that day, the local snowfall had reached 22.1 cm. Jeonju City began emergency operations for swift response from 4 p.m. on the 26th, when a heavy snow preliminary warning was issued, and has continued since then.

In the early morning of the 27th, the city preemptively spread de-icing agents on 18.5 km of roads that are prone to habitual freezing to ensure smooth traffic flow. When a heavy snow advisory was issued at 11:20 a.m. the same day, the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters declared Emergency Level 1, mobilized emergency staff from 13 collaborative departments, and promptly carried out winter disaster response tasks.

At around 2:40 p.m. the previous day, when a heavy snow warning was issued, the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters was elevated to Emergency Level 2, and a situation assessment meeting was held under the leadership of Mayor Woo Beomgi of Jeonju.

At that time, Mayor Woo Beomgi instructed that utmost efforts be made in situation management and snow removal to prevent transportation inconveniences during the Lunar New Year holiday snowstorm, and especially emphasized strengthening protection measures for vulnerable groups such as the elderly living alone.

Accordingly, the city mobilized a total of 216 personnel and 114 pieces of snow removal equipment over 8 rounds, using 1,253 tons of snow removal materials to clear a total of 606 km, including 80 major arterial roads.

For more efficient and rapid snow removal, the city responded swiftly to the heavy snowfall by improving the 'establishment of urban snow removal forward bases,' 'expansion of brine storage tanks and road heating systems for snow removal,' and 'standards for emergency operations and snow removal work.'

In addition, all city employees were mobilized to clear snow from back roads and other areas where snow removal equipment could not be easily used.

The city also actively promoted safety guidelines such as refraining from going out and clearing snow in front of homes through disaster safety text messages, village broadcasts, and disaster electronic signboards. Inspections were intensified at 29 snow-vulnerable structures to prevent casualties by preparing for possible collapses due to the snow load.

Furthermore, for vulnerable groups such as the elderly living alone, 403 life guidance counselors were utilized for phone and in-person safety checks. The disaster response system was maintained to ensure immediate safety measures could be taken in case of emergencies.

To prevent inconvenience for citizens using public transportation, the city established an emergency communication network with five transportation companies and the Facilities Management Corporation. Currently, city (village) buses in Jeonju are operating normally from the first departure. The city also plans to quickly restore normal operations in some sections adjacent to other cities and counties.

The city plans to continue its monitoring activities and maintain its emergency response system to swiftly respond to safety accidents caused by heavy snow during the ongoing holiday, doing its utmost to protect the valuable property and lives of its citizens.

Mayor Woo Beomgi stated, "We will do our best in winter disaster response, prioritizing the safety and convenience of citizens so that those returning to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday can return home with good memories."