Formation of Special Heatwave Response Team
Minimizing Damage to Citizens
Iksan City in North Jeolla Province is focusing its administrative resources on protecting citizens' safety amid the ongoing heatwave.
According to the city on July 9, a heatwave warning has been in effect in the Iksan area since July 7. A heatwave warning is issued when the maximum perceived temperature is expected to reach or exceed 35 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days or more, or when such conditions are forecasted.
In response to these conditions, the city is strengthening its response system, centering on a "Heatwave Response Task Force (TF)" composed of three teams and 52 members, and is making comprehensive efforts to minimize damage to citizens.
First, the city is operating 501 cooling shelters that serve as rest areas for citizens, and has installed 173 shade structures at major intersections to protect pedestrians.
The city is in the process of installing two additional smart shade structures, and during the heatwave response period, which lasts until the end of September, it plans to inspect the cooling shelters at least once a week and consider designating additional shelters to ensure residents can use them without inconvenience.
In addition, the city is placing large blocks of ice and bottled water at 28 bus stops once in the morning and once in the afternoon each day, allowing citizens to stay cool and hydrated. When a heatwave warning is in effect, the city also operates four water-spraying trucks along 35 kilometers of major arterial roads to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
The city is strengthening monitoring activities for heatwave-vulnerable groups, such as elderly people living alone and those with mobility difficulties, to prevent casualties. In this process, about 1,700 disaster helpers, including local leaders, members of the voluntary disaster prevention corps, and welfare support workers, are checking in on heatwave-vulnerable residents in the community.
In practice, welfare support workers are monitoring the health of approximately 4,100 elderly people in vulnerable situations by visiting them once a week and calling them at least once a week. For high-risk individuals, such as those with underlying health conditions, additional phone check-ins are conducted on weekends. In addition, the city is strengthening the "Town and Township Chief Responsibility System," under which chiefs directly oversee the situation and health status of vulnerable residents in their areas.
Furthermore, the city is working to ensure the safety of field workers by inspecting compliance with heat-related illness prevention guidelines at 105 local construction sites, and is recommending that outdoor work be avoided during periods of severe heat. Preventive public awareness efforts, such as providing behavioral guidelines through disaster text messages and village broadcasts, are also being carried out in parallel.
Mayor Jung Heon-yul said, "Protecting the lives and safety of citizens amid extreme heatwaves caused by the climate crisis is more important than anything else," adding, "We will focus our administrative capabilities on effective responses and do our utmost to ensure that all citizens can stay healthy throughout the summer."
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