Gyeonggi Province to Invest 2.8 Billion Won in Automatic Snow Removal Equipment and Cold Wave Mitigation Facilities

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 14th that it will establish and implement comprehensive measures for heavy snow and cold waves over a four-month period from the 15th through March 15 next year to secure public safety from winter disasters and emergencies.

The province will first operate a 24-hour situation room to conduct constant situation management for rapid disaster response system operation, and has established a disaster situation response plan that immediately switches to an emergency duty system when situations such as heavy snow warnings occur.

Additionally, as part of field-focused countermeasures, the province has provided 2 billion won from disaster management funds and 800 million won from special transfer payments to cities and counties to install automatic snow removal equipment such as salt water spraying devices and cold wave mitigation facilities such as heated chairs at bus stops.

For road snow removal measures in preparation for heavy snowfall, the province has established emergency contact networks for each of 133 expressway interchanges in the province to create a cooperative system among related agencies for smooth traffic flow, and plans to secure snow removal equipment including 123,005 tons of de-icer, 1,863 snow removal vehicles, and 5,187 snow removal machines to promote rapid snow removal operations.

When heavy snowfall is expected, the province will implement adjustments to commuting hours, advance de-icer application, and increased public transportation, and plans to conduct safety inspections three times—before, during, and after heavy snow warnings—for vulnerable structures such as aging houses at risk of collapse.

Park Won-seok, director of Gyeonggi Province's Safety Management Division, said, "In the case of heavy snow and cold wave disasters, the damage suffered by residents is more severe and extensive. We will do our utmost in damage prevention activities so that residents can safely pass through winter without disaster damage."