Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[MND] Army goes all out in establishing winter disaster readiness posture

Sets period of disaster response until March 15 next year
Focuses entire capabilities on achieving ‘Zero damage’
Enhances full range of preventive actions such as facilities

It is predicted that heavy snow and a cold wave will be in full swing due to unusual weather with a jet stream from the Arctic region in January and February. For this reason, our army has set the disaster response period in winter from December 1 to March 15, going all out in establishing a thorough readiness posture.

As part of a readiness posture, The MND provided with the guidelines on disaster preparations to all the entire military, and held a ’major disaster officials meeting’, organized by Major General Park Byung-ki, Director General for Logistics Management, at the video conference room in the main MND building, on December 1.

The meeting was attended by all Army·Navy·Air forces headquarters and operations command-level of deputy chief of staff and chief of staff, logistics, officers responsible for disaster at level under the direct control of the MND and the Corps, and they discussed preparations for disasters that can occur in winter, such as heavy snow, cold wave, domestic animal diseases, etc. They also checked the disaster prevention-preparation-response-restoration system conducted by each unit class.

The meeting consisted of winter weather forecasting, presentation of a past case study, a report of the result related to disaster preparations of each unit and open discussion. Through the meeting, the consensus was made that the military's capabilities should be focused on achieving ‘Zero damage’ and ensuring soldiers could spend a warm winter.

The military enhanced its preventive activities for disaster-vulnerable regions where avalanche, freezing, collapse, etc. are predicted before the arrival of a real winter. It is deploying snow clearing equipment in areas prone to heavy snowfall in advance, and carrying out snow-removal operations in accordance with troops evacuation and priority. Along with it, the military is devoted to officer education so that it can observe the weather conditions in real-time, and units for which a special weather statement has been issued can operate a disaster headquarters immediately.

They also prepared measures to minimize damage to facilities, equipment and supplies. Instructions were given to open the last tap of a water pipe for prevention of water supply lines from freezing and for making sure of quick response toward outbreak of fire resulted from a sudden fall in temperature by developing fire response training more than once a month.

The military is making every preparation to provide support to civil authorities as well. It is maintaining 100% availability of heavy machines including snow-removing vehicles and helicopters to be immediately deployed in the event of heavy snow, as well as securing relief supplies like cup noodles and mineral water in advance.

In order to prevent the spread of damage from Avian Influenza (AI)) that occurred in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, the military is establishing a close cooperative system with relevant organizations, and promises to operate health control actively when requested by a local government.

Major General Park Byung-ki, Director General for Logistics Management said, “Nothing is more important than preparation and response to ensure that there is no loss of life due to heavy snows, cold wave and fire by operating a disaster headquarters as a precaution considering special weather reports.” And, he said “Please be a reliable army for the people by providing immediate damage recovery when the people need it, like restoration aid for those damaged by typhoon Chaba, as well as damage prevention within the military.”

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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