Inje County Prepares for Heavy Snow and Cold Waves... Deploys 1,500 Tons of Deicing Agents, 20 Snow Removal Vehicles

Inspection of 32 Cold Wave Shelters
Strengthening Protections for Vulnerable Groups, Including Older Adults Living Alone

Inje County in Gangwon Province will pre-position snow removal equipment and materials and strengthen protections for vulnerable residents to prevent villages from becoming isolated and to reduce damage from cold waves caused by heavy winter snowfall.

Snow removal in Inje County. Photo provided by Inje County.

Inje County said on November 1 that it will conduct preparations for natural disasters in winter through November 15 and operate its natural disaster response period from November 1 through March 2027. Reflecting improvements identified during last year's response, the county plans to inspect facilities at risk of disaster and road sections vulnerable to snow accumulation.

The county will organize 13 teams centered on its Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to monitor weather conditions and disaster reports in real time. It will divide emergency response into five stages based on weather advisories and warnings, with responses tailored to each situation.

To prepare for heavy snowfall, the county will position 1,200 tons of snow removal salt, 300 tons of eco-friendly deicing agent, and 20 snow removal vehicles in vulnerable areas by November. It will also deploy 115 members of its volunteer disaster prevention corps and 173 members of village tractor snow removal teams to clear snow from village roads and pedestrian routes, among other areas essential to residents' daily lives. The county will also establish cooperation systems with private organizations and neighboring cities and counties.

Cold wave measures will focus on protecting vulnerable groups. The county will update its village-by-village records of older adults living alone, basic livelihood security recipients, and near-poverty households to identify those requiring priority care, and provide cold wave safety guidance tailored to local conditions.

Before the onset of severe cold, the county will check whether all 32 cold wave shelters in the area are open and whether their heating equipment is working. It also plans to provide winter safety education for shelter users and continue checking on the safety of vulnerable residents.

Kwon Oyoung, head of Inje County's Safety and Transportation Division, said, "We will focus on prevention and on-site response to prepare for hard-to-predict weather conditions, including localized heavy snowfall and cold waves. Through thorough inspections and swift response, we will protect residents' lives and property."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.