"Resident Safety First": Yeongam County Takes Preemptive Measures Against Heavy Rain and Heatwaves

Inspection of 327 Cooling Shelters and Expansion of Umbrella and Parasol Rental Stations Planned

Yeongam County conducting rainwater drainage pipe cleaning in preparation for heavy rain. (Photo by Yeongam County)

Yeongam County in Jeollanam-do is taking swift and proactive measures to minimize damage to residents caused by heavy summer rains and heatwaves.

The county announced on the 15th that, as soon as a heavy rain advisory was issued in the morning of the 13th, it immediately activated Emergency Level 1 of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and entered an emergency work system.

Following this, the county held an emergency situation assessment meeting to review the response status of each department. At the same time, it immediately restricted access to two riverside parking lots at risk of flooding and completed emergency inspections of key facilities, including landslide-prone areas, drainage pump stations, and rainwater inlets.

Thanks to the county's prompt response, despite an average rainfall of 71.5mm over the weekend, the situation was managed without major damage except for some flooding of roads and livestock barns. Currently, the county is working with township and town administrative welfare centers to identify additional damage, and plans to proceed with swift restoration for any reported cases.

After the heavy rain, the county is also focusing its administrative efforts on preventing heatwave-related damage. Taking advantage of the brief lull in high temperatures this week, the county has begun comprehensive inspections of heatwave response facilities, including 327 cooling shelters and 44 shade canopies.

In cooperation with the Community Disaster Prevention Corps, the county is also conducting monitoring activities. It plans to expand umbrella and parasol rental stations to 30 locations, including township and town administrative welfare centers, welfare centers, and bus terminals?facilities closely tied to residents' daily lives. A total of 600 parasols and umbrellas will be available at these stations for use by any resident.

Education and prevention activities for residents to prepare for heatwaves are also being actively carried out. On the 10th, the Yeongam County Agricultural Technology Center conducted heat illness prevention training for about 70 members of the Rural Leaders Association.

Seo Min-tae, a researcher from the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, served as the instructor, introducing the main symptoms and prevention methods for heatstroke and heat exhaustion that can occur during farm work, as well as emergency response procedures. A self-checklist was also distributed.

Each township and town is continuing its own heatwave preparedness activities. The Samho-eup Administrative Welfare Center conducted on-site inspections and safety training for senior citizens participating in elderly job programs on the 8th and 11th, while the Seoho-myeon Administrative Welfare Center visited village cooling shelters from the 3rd to the 8th of this month to carry out heat illness prevention activities.

A Yeongam County official emphasized, "As the heatwave crisis alert has been raised to 'Warning' level, residents themselves must strictly follow health guidelines for heatwaves, such as drinking water frequently and resting in the shade."

Hwang Euisong, Head of the Resident Safety Division, said, "Disasters can result from a single moment of carelessness. We will make protecting the lives and property of residents our top priority and ensure there are no gaps in our disaster response."