Gov. Kim Dong-yeon Inspects Heavy Snow Response, Issues Special Instructions for Province-City Emergency Support System

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] As heavy snow weather alerts were issued across Gyeonggi Province, Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the Province's 'Disaster Safety Headquarters' on the morning of the 27th to review response measures and issue special instructions for activating province and city-county emergency support systems.

After receiving a briefing on heavy snow damage and response measures that began falling since early that morning, Gov. Kim said, "Although it is a holiday period, I hope you will do your best to prevent safety and property damage to our residents in advance," and issued four directives: △thorough road snow removal △precautions against vulnerable structure collapse △safety of vulnerable populations △activation of emergency support systems.

Gov. Kim stated, "Since this is a time when many people are traveling on the return home routes, I request that road snow removal work be conducted thoroughly to prepare for road icing and black ice," and added, "Learning from our experience handling the heavy snowfall last time, please prepare for the collapse of vulnerable structures such as vinyl greenhouses, and during the holiday period, please look after the safety of vulnerable populations, elderly people living alone, and homeless people."

He further said, "Finally, I ask that you activate the province-level emergency support system so that conditions for snow removal, equipment, and personnel in each city and county can be grasped in real time, and if any areas are lacking, they can support each other."

Earlier, as Gyeonggi Province anticipated significant snowfall across the province on the 27th during the Lunar New Year holiday, the province activated Level 1 Emergency Status for its Disaster Safety Headquarters starting at 6 a.m. on the 27th.

As of 9 a.m. on the 27th, Gyeonggi Province was conducting snow removal operations by mobilizing 1,760 snow removal vehicles and 2,507 personnel while spreading 6,105 tons of snow removal agent. Given that a sharp temperature drop is forecast for the 28th to 30th following the snowfall, the province plans to open cold-wave shelters during the holiday period and implement protective measures including welfare checks on 31,000 vulnerable elderly people requiring priority care and two homeless meal services.

Meanwhile, Governor Kim Dong-yeon sent a special directive to cities and counties on the 24th before the start of the holiday, with the main contents focusing on thorough snow removal work, on-site inspections to prevent collapse and pre-evacuation, and protection of vulnerable populations affected by severe cold, ordering preemptive responses to heavy snow and cold waves.