Korea Zinc's (010130) Onsan smelter is stepping up support for systems designed to prepare for disasters before they strike.
The smelter said on the 3rd that it had provided 230 million won to the Ulsan Metropolitan Government as funding to build a preemptive disaster response system. Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook and Park Seong-woong, head of the Onsan smelter's management support division, attended a handover ceremony held last month. The money will go toward mobile on-site infrastructure and emergency relief supplies, centered on the Ulsan Volunteer Center and volunteer centers in the city's five districts and counties. Each district and county center plans to introduce eco-friendly electric vans equipped with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing them to transport personnel and relief supplies as well as supply emergency power. The centers will also stock relief goods such as food and drinking water, along with on-site equipment including power banks and accordion tents. In normal times, the vehicles and equipment will be used for a range of community programs, including support for vulnerable groups and local volunteer work.
The Onsan smelter plans to use the funding as a starting point to broaden its community work from post-disaster recovery support to preemptive preparation before disasters occur. Given how difficult disasters are to predict, the company said it will build on-site response capacity in advance and strengthen the local safety net so that practical assistance can reach people promptly from the earliest stage of an emergency.
"Because it is hard to predict when and where a disaster will strike, we believe it is important not only to provide support after damage occurs but also to prepare thoroughly in advance," Park said. "We hope this support will be of real help in delivering the assistance citizens need more quickly when a disaster occurs and in minimizing damage."
