The era of ‘super water bombs’, our survival formula against unexpected disasters > News

Recently, atmospheric instability over the Korean Peninsula has become extremely severe, and precipitation patterns are completely different from before. As the cold air in the upper atmosphere collides with the hot heat on the ground, the ‘water bomb’ phenomenon, which pours more than 30 mm of rain per hour into a small area, has become frequent. In particular, as the water vapor content in the atmosphere increases dramatically due to rising temperatures, rain clouds have become much more destructive than in the past. This ‘super CC (convective rainfall)’ phenomenon goes beyond simple frequent rain and is transforming into extreme precipitation that sweeps away everything in a short period of time. Experts warn that it is time to focus on ‘rainfall intensity’ rather than total rainfall, and that it is time to cool-headedly reexamine whether the city’s drainage infrastructure can handle such explosive rainfall.

In order to respond to this, each local government and fire authorities are breaking away from the practice of focusing on after-the-fact recovery and introducing a new strategy called ‘proactive prevention.’ As Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dong-yeon emphasized, golden time can be secured only when disaster response is accompanied by a thoroughness that is ‘to the point of being excessive.’ Detailed inspections of dangerous areas based on flood damage history are already in full swing throughout the country. The installation of a water stopper in Pohang, the introduction of an automatic water level measuring instrument in Icheon, and the securing of a large water pump in Geumsan are expressions of our will to go beyond simply equipping ourselves with equipment and build a tight technical and physical defense line by learning from the painful memories of the past. Disaster management is now evolving into a continuous monitoring system that combines not only the administrative power of government offices but also cutting-edge ICT technology, increasing real-time response capabilities.

The response system in the field is also being reorganized more organically and closely. As in the case of Gimpo City, the cooperation between disaster officials and the Autonomous Disaster Foundation to strengthen surveillance activities is a very encouraging attempt to fill the blind spots of administration with the power of citizens. The police also inspect water level sensors and blocking facilities, focusing on underpasses and tunnels that are prone to flooding, and are fully prepared to enable immediate traffic control in the event of heavy rain. In the past, response procedures that were segmented by agency are now united through an emergency communication network, and through situational assessment meetings, we are securing the mobility to deploy all available manpower and resources as soon as a weather warning goes into effect. This collaboration system becomes a key link in reducing confusion in the event of a disaster and helping residents evacuate safely.

However, the completion of all these systems ultimately ends with residents’ mature safety awareness. No matter how good the blocking facilities and warning devices are, accidents are inevitable if people forcefully approach areas at risk of flooding or attempt to drive their vehicles through waterways. Small measures such as checking weather information regularly and avoiding dangerous areas such as riverside trails during heavy rain can minimize the damage from disasters. Even if the police and fire departments build a strong fence, ultimately it is up to the residents themselves to ensure safety within that fence. Disasters come without warning, but only when thorough preparation in advance and adherence to personal safety rules are combined will we have the power to overcome the huge wave of the climate crisis.