Shincheonji Fills Gaps in Community Safety, Replacing Flash Flood Anxiety with a Breakwater of Solidarity

Shincheonji Fills Gaps in Community Safety,

Replacing Flash Flood Anxiety with a Breakwater of Solidarity

Every summer, flooding caused by heavy rainfall brings difficult times for many people. Although efforts are made to conduct inspections in advance and take preventive measures to reduce flood damage, such incidents still cannot be completely avoided. Flooding can occur due to overflowing rivers or aging sewer systems, but one of the biggest causes is blocked storm drains. Cigarette butts, household waste, fallen leaves, and other debris clog these drains, preventing rainwater from flowing away properly and leading to flooding.

When cigarette butts, household waste, fallen leaves, and other debris accumulate in storm drains, poor drainage can quickly cause roads to flood. In particular, underground tunnels can become submerged and unusable. I remember an incident in which a sudden increase in rainfall within just a few minutes trapped vehicles inside an underground tunnel, resulting in fatalities. That is why communities in many areas are making continuous efforts to carry out environmental clean-up activities ahead of the monsoon season. Effective preventive measures can significantly reduce flood damage while minimizing the social costs and manpower required for post-disaster recovery.

The Shincheonji Volunteer Group carried out home restoration work in 2022 for church members who were affected by severe flooding in the Sillim-dong area of Gwanak-gu following record-breaking rainfall. Sillim-dong is widely known as a low-lying area and experiences frequent flooding during the monsoon season. The neighborhood also has a high proportion of semi-basement homes, which are particularly vulnerable to flooding, leaving residents to bear significant financial losses and spend considerable time recovering from the damage. Volunteers visited the homes of affected church members, removed contaminated water that had flooded the living spaces, and helped clean and reorganize their homes to support their return to normal life.

A church member affected by the flooding recalled, "When I opened my front door, sewage water that had backed up from the drains came pouring into the hallway. I experienced firsthand how a single, unexpected downpour could turn everyday life upside down in an instant. I had to throw away all of my daily necessities, and if the volunteers had not stayed to help with the restoration until the very end, I would have had no choice but to give up on my home and leave."

When such damage occurs, institutional assistance such as disaster relief funds may be provided, but the reality is that these measures often fall far short of covering the actual cost of recovery. Flood victims are frequently forced to discard their furniture and daily necessities, and many also have to relocate temporarily or permanently, making the financial burden substantial. Even after restoration work is completed and residents are able to move back into their homes, living in a house permeated with the lingering odor of sewage is far from easy.

Looking at these cases, it is clear that prevention is far more important than recovery. That is why activities such as maintaining storm drains and collecting trash throughout the city before the rainy season begins are so important. In particular, conducting regular inspections in areas where fallen leaves and sediment tend to accumulate, as well as in places with heavy pedestrian traffic, can go a long way toward preventing flood damage.

Following the devastating floods in 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the number of storm drains to more than 580,000 by 2024 and assigned dedicated personnel to manage them. However, it is inevitable that there are limitations to monitoring and maintaining every part of the city, including blind spots, in real time through administrative manpower alone. Therefore, most people would agree that the voluntary participation of organizations such as volunteer groups is essential for protecting public safety and reducing the costs associated with post-disaster recovery.

The Gwangmyeong Branch, which had previously participated in flood recovery efforts, collected 300 liters of sediment from around storm drains in April at the request of a local volunteer center. Likewise, since 2022, the Gangseo Branch has conducted 48 cleanup activities involving 2,893 volunteers, removing a cumulative total of 133,000 liters of waste and helping restore the drainage capacity of urban areas.

The Gangseo Branch expanded its activities from the Ujangsan–Hwagok Station area to the Balsan–Magok area, which attracts large crowds on weekends. In addition, 80 volunteers cleaned fallen leaves, sediment, and household waste accumulated near drainage inlets in densely populated commercial districts.

According to experiments conducted by the National Disaster Management Research Institute, steep slopes tend to cause trash and debris to accumulate, significantly increasing the blockage rate of storm drains. The study found that when storm drains become obstructed, the flooded area can expand by more than three times. Therefore, maintenance efforts that take into account the topographical risks of an area have also been recognized as an important disaster prevention measure.

As a result, we have witnessed an exemplary case of proactive disaster prevention. Through a large-scale volunteer effort, approximately 3 tons of general waste, 1,000 liters of discarded tires and bulky waste, and about 100 cubic meters of waste wood and removed weeds were collected, comprehensively eliminating environmental hazards that could contribute to flooding and other safety risks.

In particular, the section near the Gimpo Ara Bridge had undergone large-scale cleanup efforts and featured steep embankment slopes. It was also an area where illegally dumped bulky waste had raised concerns about potential safety hazards. By removing large discarded items from both slopes on either side of the pedestrian walkway, the volunteers helped prevent possible casualties that could have occurred if piles of waste had collapsed during heavy rainfall.

The director of the Gimpo Volunteer Center, who visited the site that day, stated, “I sincerely appreciate the volunteers who took the initiative to identify areas affected by illegal dumping and actively participated in the cleanup efforts. Going forward, we will work together with the City of Gimpo to regularly manage this area and maintain a safe and clean environment.”

Mr. Kwak Jong-ryeol, Branch Leader of the Seoul-Gyeonggi Western Association, said, “Proactive preventive measures are an effective disaster prevention strategy for protecting residents’ lives and property. We will continue to take the lead in identifying disaster-vulnerable areas in urban communities and systematizing preemptive cleanup activities to better prepare for climate-related disasters.”

Disasters cannot be prevented entirely. However, reducing the extent of damage is within our power. Small actions, such as refraining from littering in storm drains to help prevent flooding, can minimize disaster-related damage and strengthen the safety net of our communities. As I write this, I realize that I, too, have often frowned whenever I see trash left on roads or around storm drains, especially cigarette butts. The continued awareness and active participation of citizens can become a powerful safeguard that protects our communities from disaster.

Reference : https://vo.la/PxURoXZ